THE 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWW OF FLATBUSH, 



IN 



KINGS COUNTY, LONG-ISLAND, 

BY THOMAS M. STRONG, D. D., 



PASTOR OF THE REFOKMED DUTCH CHURCH, OF FLATBUSH. 



PUBLISHED BY REaUEST, 



N E W - Y O R K : 




THOMAS R. MERCEIN, JR., PRINTER, 
240 Pearl street, cor. Burling-slip. 

1842. 



PREFACE. 



This History was prepared as a part of a course of 
Lectures by the " Flatbush Litebary Association," 
during the winter of 1841-2. In yielding to the request 
which has been made to him from several sources to have 
it published, the author would remark, that he has made 
some additions and corrections in it since it was delivered. 
His object has been to make it as copious and authentic as 
practicable. He has aimed more at fulness and accuracy 
of detail than at ornament or display of composition. The 
great difficulty in accomplishing a work of this nature, 
arises from the fact, that the early liistory of the town is 
wrapped up in manuscripts written in the Dutch language, 
and many of them too in a very small and cramped cha- 
racter. These but few can decipher and translate. The 
author has happily been favored with the assistance of 
two gentlemen of Flatbush, who have aided him very 
materially in this particular. Several papers of impor- 
tance relating to the civil and ecclesiastical history of 
the Town, have been translated by them for the purpose 
of furthering this work. To these gentlemen, John C. 
Vanderveer and Jeremiah Lott, Esq's., the author would 



return his grateful acknowledgments. The latter gentle- 
man, in addition to several translations and other docu- 
ments, has also kindly furnished the draft of the map which 
accompanies the volume. Assistance has also been derived 
from " Smith's History of New- York," " Thompson's 
History of Long-Island," and " Furman's Notes, &c.,''of 
the Town of Brooklyn. " Besides these sources of informa- 
ation, General Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn, and several 
elderly persons living in the village of Flatbush, have 
been consulted. Prom these individuals important facts 
relative to the scenes which took place during the re- 
volutionary war and the times immediately preceding 
and following that great event, have been obtained. The 
plan of the work now presented to the public, embraces 
five divisions : The Civil — the Ecclesiastical — the Literary 
History of the Town — the incidents which transpired 
therein during the war, which resulted in our American 
Independence, and a description of some of the changes 
or improvements which have been introduced in more 
modern times. The author is conscious that in regard to 
the earlier history of Flatbush, there is much that is de- 
fective — arising from the want of sufficient sources of in- 
formation. These will not probably be fully supplied 
until the return and publication of the report of Romeyn 
Brodhead, Esq., who is now in Holland as a Commission- 
er from the State of New- York, to collect information 
relative to the settlement and early History of this 
State. He has already obtained possession of a great 



amount of valuable facts, which will throw much light 
upon both the early civil and ecclesiastical affairs, not 
only of the Dynasty of New-Netherlands generally — but 
particularly of the west end of Long-Island. When this 
work shall appear, it will supply all that is defective in 
the present volume, as far as relates to the early history 
of the town. In the mean time, trusting to the candor and 
generosity 6f the public to receive with favor, an attempt 
to regain and preserve the facts connected with the 
history of one of the oldest towns in the state, consent has 
been given to the publication of this work. 

Flatbush, L. I., April 4, 1842. 



HISTORY. 



Long-Island was discovered in the year 1609, by 
Henry Hudson. He was an Englishman by birth, but 
was engaged by the East India Company of Holland to 
discover a passage to the East Indies in a westerly direc- 
tion from Europe. He had been employed in the same 
service by the English, and had failed in his entei^risCy 
and been dismissed from their employ. Upon which he was 
engaged by the Dutch, and fitted out with a vessel called 
the Half Moon. After coasting in his third voyage as far 
south as Virginia, he tui'ned to the north again and saw 
for the first time the highlands of Neversink. On the 3d 
of September 1609, he entered the great bay between 
Sandy Hook, Staten-Island and Amboy. He observed 
among other things, that the waters swarmed with fish 
and some of very large size. On the 4th, he sent his 
men on shore, and relates that he found the soil of white 
sand and a vast number of plum trees loaded with fruit, 
and many of them covered with grape vines of different 
kinds. The natives are represented in general as mani- 
festing all friendship, when Hudson first landed among 
them. But on one occasion shortly after his arrival, their 
bad feelings were from some cause not stated, excited. 
Hudson sent out a boat under command of one Colman 
to catch fish, and the Indians attacked the men. One of 
the arrows which they discharged, headed with a sharp 



8 

flint stono, struck Colman in the throat and mortally 
wounded him. The sailors not being able to defend 
tliemselves, hastened back to the ship, carrying poor 
Colman dying with them. His body was taken on 
shore after his death and buried on the island which 
is now called Coney Island — a corruption of the ori- 
ginal name Colman, which was given it by Hudson 
and his company, in commemoration of him who was 
buried there, and who Mas the commander of the 
boat which bore the first Europeans through the passage 
so familiarly known to us all as the Narrotvs. De Laet, 
a Dutch historian, says, that at this time the natives were 
clothed in the skins of elks, foxes and other animals. 
Their canoes were made of the bodies of trees ; their 
arms, bows and arrows M'ith sharp points of stone fixed 
to them. They had no houses, he says, but slept under 
tJie blue heavens : some on mats made of brush or bul- 
rushes, and some upon leaves of trees. Hudson passed up 
the river which still bears his name, and left it to others 
to discover that the land on which he had touched, was 
an island. This was done by Adrian Block, in 1614. He 
sailed from New-Amsterdam, now New-York, through the 
sound to Cape Cod, and visited the intermediate coasts and 
islands. He appears to have been the first who ascertain- 
ed that Long-Island was separate from the main land, 
Long-Island at this time, bore the name of Mattouwake, or 
MeHowak and Seirauhackcij — the last of which, means the 
isle or land of shells, and was no doubt given to it in con- 
sequence of large quantities of seewant or shell money, 
being manufactured here. 

The objects of the Dutch being at first chiefly of a 
mercantile character, but few settlements were made in 
the country bv them. The first was established on an is- 



9 

land near the present site of Albany, in the year 1614, 
where they built a fort, which in honor of their sovereign, 
they called Fort Orange. It was not however, till the 
year 1624, that any settlement was made on Manhattan 
Island. In that year Fort Amsterdam was built and the 
foundation laid for the city of New- Amsterdam, now New- 
York. The resources of the country and the prospect of 
a very lucrative trade with the natives in fur being made 
known in Holland, soon induced many to emigrate to this 
new country. The object of the first settlers evidently 
was trade. But as it soon became known that lands equal 
in fertility to those of Holland were to be found here, and 
advantages of no ordinary character were offered to the 
agriculturist, many familes were induced to leave their 
father land and settle in this country. The first settle- 
ment on the west end of Long-Island, appears to have 
been made as early as 1625, in which year, according to 
a family record in the hands of General Johnson of Brook- 
lyn, the first child of George Jansen De Rapalje, was 
born at the Wallaboght — and it is the tradition among the 
Dutch, that this was the first white child that was born on 
the island. It is however not probable, that many emi- 
grants had yet arrived from Holland with the object of 
cultivating the soil, as the earliest deed for land in the 
town of Brooklyn, is a grant to Abraham Rycken, in 1638, 
and the earliest deed on record, is a grant to Thomas Bes- 
ker, in the year 1639 ; and the earliest grant for lands in 
Kings County that has been discovered, was in 1636. The 
first purchase from the Indians on Long-Island that has been 
discovered, was in the year 1635 ; and the earliest deed 
for land to individuals, was from these Indians to Jacobus 
Van Corlear, for the tract subsequently called Corlear's 
Flats. The description of this tract in the deed, is as. 



10 

follows : — " The middlemost of the three flats to them 
belonging, called Castoleeuw, on the island by them call- 
ed Sewanhackey, between the bay of the North-river and 
East-river of the New-Netherlands, extending in length 
from a certain kill coming up from the sea, mostly north- 
erly till into the woods, and a breadth of a certain valeye 
eastward also to the woods." About the same time, 
a deed was given by the same Indians, to Andries 
Hedden and Wolphert Garritsen, for what is called the 
Little Flats ; and another to Wouter Van Twiller the 
Director, for what has since been denominated Twil- 
ler's Flats. The deed is dated June 6th,1636. These 
three latter tracts lie partly in Flatbush and partly 
in Flatlands. It is not improbable, however, that con- 
siderable settlements were made before any formal 
grants or Patents of lands were obtained. It was soon 
ascertained that the lands in and about Flatlands, were 
level and free from woods. This was a strong inducement 
to settlers who came from the level country of Holland, 
and who had no domestic animals for the plough, to oc- 
cupy this part of the island. It is believed that as early 
as the year 1630, a settlement was effected in that town, 
which was then called New-Amersfort, after Amersfort, a 
town in the province of Utrecht, in Holland, from which 
probably some, if not most of the earlier settlers came. 
It also received the name of De Baije, or the Bay. In 
1634, this town appears to have contained quite a num- 
ber of inhabitants. 

But about this time, the Dutchmen found that the plain 
clear land was not so strong and productive as that which 
bore heavy timber ; this induced many of them to seek a 
settlement somewhat farther to the north — and from the 
best account it would appear that about the year 1634, the 



11 



settlement of Flatbush commenced. It then comprised a 
tract of woodland bounded on the north by the Hills on 
the south by Flatlands, and extending east and west in 
one continual forest. This tract was evidently purchased 
by the governor of the colony, or by the first settlers, 
from the native Indian proprietors, but the amount of 
^ consideration paid cannot now be ascertained. At the 
time of the purchase, it was heavily covered with timber 
(consisting principally of hickory and white and black 
oak,) with the exception of two small parcels which were 
clear and destitute of trees, lying to the east of the town, 
then called by the names of Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats 
and another on the south of the town adjoining Flatlands' 
callea the Little Flats. The land thus described, from' 
Its being prmcipally covered with timber, and from its pe- 
culiar location, having the hills on the north and Flatlands 
on the south, was appropriately called by the first settlers, 
by the name of Midwout, or Middlewoods. 

The first settlements in the town were made along an 
Indian path leading from the Hills to New-Amersfort 
which is now the present highway or street through the 
village of Flatbush. All subsequent settlements were 
principally confined to the same path, and will readily 
account for the crooked direction of the present road. 
The first settlers were intent upon making agriculture 
their principal means of subsistence. In order therefore 
to concentrate their dwellings as much as possible, so as 
to protect their families from Indian intrusions or other 
depredations, and to form a village of farmers, they de- 
termined to layout their farms in narrow oblongs fronting 
on both sides of the path above mentioned. The farms 
were accordingly laid out into forty-eight lots or tracts of 
land, extending six liundred Dutch rods on each side of 



12 

the Indian path, and having severally an average width 
of about twenty-seven rods. The lots or farms on the east 
side of the path, were all laid out in a direction running 
east and west: while those on the west side thereof, had 
a south-westerly inclination so as to correspond with the 
direction of the Hills adjoining the north-westerly side of 
the town. An allotment was then made between the 
several proprietors of mostly two lots or more a peice, 
and for the support of the gospel among them according to 
their own religious faith, the most central and eligible lots 
were reserved and set apart for their church. The dis- 
tribution among the proprietors, was probably made by 
lot, which appears to have been the almost invariable 
practice of the Dutch in dividing the lands which they 
patented. A considerable portion of wood-lands lying on 
the west, north and east sides of the towns, together with 
Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, were left in common and 
remained for years undivided. 

There can be no doubt that the existing governor in 
order to secure the inhabitants of Midwout in the quiet 
possession of their purchase from the native Indian pm- 
prietors, confirmed the same to them by his Ground Brief 
or Letters Patent. But when this was granted cannot now 
be ascertained v/ith entire certainty. In the year 
1684, twenty years after the surrender of the Colony 
to the English, an order was issued by the Gover- 
nor and Council, commanding all the inhabitants of 
the Dutch towns in the provinces of New- York and 
New-Jersey to bring their Dutch Patents and Indian 
Deeds into the ; Secretary's Office in New-York. This 
order was no doubt complied with by this as well as 
the other Dutch towns on Long-Island, and thus the origi- 
nal patent with those of the other towns, except Graves- 



'^ 



1^ 

end, (which being settled chiefly by English emigrants, 
was favored by the Governor,) was destroyed or sent to 
England. The object of this arrangement was to cause 
the towns to take out new Patents, and thus not only 
acknowledge the English government, but increase the 
revenue of the English Governor. It is probable how- 
ever, that the first patent obtained from the Dutch Gover- 
nor was only for that part of Flatbush which goes under 
the name of the old town, which was granted about the 
year 1651 or 1652. The original proprietors according 
to H. C. Murphy, Esq., of Brooklyn, were Jan Snedecor 
Arent Van Hatten, one of the Burgomasters of New- 
Amsterdam, Johannes Megapolensis, one of the ministers 
of the same city, and others. On the 20th day of June, 
in the year 1656, a Ground Brief or Patent was granted 
by Governor Stuyvesant to the " indwellers and inhabi- 
tants of Midwout," for the Canarsee Meadows, wliich 
are therein described as " a parcel of meadow ground, or 
valley, lying on the east north-east of the Canarsee Indian 
planting lands." This is the only original Dutch Patent 
of any part of the town which has been discovered. 

These meadow lands lying at Canarsee, appear to have 
been divided and an allotment made of them among the 
proprietors about the time of obtaining this Patent, or ve- 
ry shortly after, as in some of the Ground Briefs to indi- 
viduals mention is made of certain portions of these mea- 
dow lands as appertaining to the farm, and they are desio-. 
nated by particular numbers. 

Subsequently to the allotments made by, and between 
the inhabitants of Midwout, of the several parcels of land 
to them respectively allotted, many were desirous to have 
written titles to their lands ; and for this purpose applied 
to, and obtained from Governor Stuyvesant, Letters Pa- 

2 



14 

tent to secure them in their possession. These Patents to 
individuals bear different dates, and some as late as within 
a year or two previous to the surrender of the country to 
the English. Some of them were recorded in the town 
books, even several years after the surrender. 

Flatbush appears to have increased in the number of 
its inhabitants very rapidly after its first settlement ; for 
as early as the year 1658, it was the seat of Justice for 
the County, and a market town. At that time the public 
officers of the county, the Minister, Sheriff, Secretary or 
Clerk, as well as a public School-Master resided in it. 
The courts were held here, and the general business of 
this section of Long Island was transacted here. Four 
years previous to this, viz : in the year 1654, the order of 
the Governor was issued for building the first church. 
But this we shall more particularly allude to when we 
come to speak of the ecclesiastical history of the town. 

Governor Stuyvesant the last of the Dutch Governors, 
was unquestionably a brave and an honest man. But va- 
rious causes of discontent arose previous to, and during 
his administration, which called for the remonstrance of 
the people. The laws were imperfect, and many of them 
not at all adapted to the times. The voice of the people 
was not had in the choice of magistrates, nor in the enac- 
ment of the statutes, by which they were to be governed. 
Causes of Justice were too frequently decided from mere 
wantonness and caprice, and the Governor and Council 
appeared indisposed to remedy many existing evils in the 
administration of civil and criminal jurisprudence. The 
sense of public insecurity in time, produced a spirit 
of general discontent, and the people with great unanimi- 
ty resolved to state their grievances to the Governor, and 
respectfully demand redress. Accordingly the Burgo- 



15 

masters of New Amsterdam, called upon the several 
Dutch Towns to send delegates to a convention to be held 
in that city on the 26th. of November, 1653. At this con- 
vention delegates appeared from Flatbush as well as from 
the other towns. The convention adjourned to the 11th. 
of December following, when after mutual consultation, 
and discussion of various matters, they adopted a remon- 
strance, which in an able but respectful manner set forth 
their grievances. This ancient document is interesting 
as showing that at that early day the people had intelli. 
gence enough to understand their rights and know the 
legitimate objects of civil government. The remonstrance 
was signed by all the members of the convention. The 
delegates from Flatbush whose names are attached to it 
were " Elbert Elbertson, and Thomas Spicer." The Go- 
vernor and Council gave no formal answer to the remon- 
strance of the deputies, but entered one on their minutes, 
in which they denied the right of Flatbush and of Brook- 
lyn and Flatlands to send delegates, and protested against 
the meeting, although it had been called at the request of 
the Governor himself. Entertaining a just sense of the 
responsibility attached to them, the deputies made anoth- 
er but ineffectual attempt to obtain a recognition of their 
rights. On the 13th of December 1653, they presented 
another remonstrance, in which they declared, that if 
they could not obtain a redress of their grievances from the 
Governor and Council, they would be under the necessi- 
ty of appealing to their superiors, the States General. 
This so irritated Governor Stuyvesant that he ordered 
them " to disperse, and not to assemble again upon such 
a business." 

In 1654, it appears that the country was much infested 
with robbers. The inhabitants of this and the neighbor- 



16 

ing towns were much annoyed by their depredations. To 
guard themselves against these, the magistrates of Mid- 
wout united with those of Brooklyn and Amersfort in form- 
ing a military volunteer company against " robbers and 
pirates," as they expressed themselves. This company 
was formed on the 7th, of April, 1654, and determined 
that there should be a military officer in each town, call- 
ed a Sergeant, as well as a public patrole in each vil- 
lage. On the day following the organization of the com- 
pany, the Governor issued his proclamation against cer- 
tain robbers, whom he states " had been banished from 
New-England, and were wandering about on Long- 
Island." 

In 1655, a large bedy of Northern Indians, made a de- 
scent on Staten Island, and massacreed sixty-seven per- 
sons ; after which, they crossed to Long-Island and in- 
vested Gravesend, which was relieved by a party of sol- 
diers from New- Amsterdam. To guard against similar 
attacks, as well as to defend themselves from the encroach- 
ments of their neighboring Indians, the inhabitants of 
Flatbush were ordered by Governor Stuyvesant in 1656, 
to enclose their village with palisadoes. These fortifica- 
tions Were required to be kept up under the English govern- 
ment, as will appear by the following record of the court 
of Sessions for the West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long 
Island, December 15th, 1675. " The Town of Flatbush 
having neglected the making of ffortifications, the court 
take notis of it, and reffer the censure to ye Governor." 
It is further ascertained from traditionary information, 
that the first church was fenced in with strong pallisa- 
does, and that the early settlers went out in the day time 
to cultivate their farms, and returned in the evening and 
lodged within the enclosure during the night time fop 



17 

their safety and mutual protection ; and that this practice 
continued until there was a sufficient number of substan- 
tial dwellings erected, so as to render the precaution un- 
necessary. 

In the original Dutch Patent of the town, there was 
some reserve of quit rent to be paid to the Governor. But 
as the Patent cannot be found, the amount, or the kind of 
this quit rent cannot be ascertained. But on the 6th of 
June, 1656, Governor Stuyvesant issued a peremptory 
order, prohibiting the inhabitants of Flatbush, as well as 
those of Brooklyn and Flatlands, from removing their 
crops of grain from the fields until the tythes reserved by 
their Patents had either been taken or commuted for. 

It is not distinctly known to what branches of agricul- 
ture our early Dutch ancestors devoted themselves. But as 
for a considerable time they had to cultivate the ground 
without the aid of animals, and chiefly by the hoe and 
spade, it is probable that they turned their attention to 
that which would yield the most profit from the smallest 
piece of ground. There is reason to believe that in com- 
mon with some other places, on the west end of Long- 
Island, tobacco was raised in considerable quantities in 
this town during its early settlement. For in addition to 
that consumed in the Colony, shipments of this article 
were made from New- Amsterdam to Holland. As early 
as 1643, a grant for a tobacco plantation at the Walla- 
bought was made. Tobacco became too, at an early day 
a standard of value for lands and other property : 
And in 1638, an Act was passed, commonly called the 
Tobacco Statute, in which, mention is made of the high 
estimation in which the tobacco shipped from New- 
Netherlands was held in the European market, and va- 
rious regulations are prescribed relative to the manner 

2* 



18 

in which ft shall' be cultivated, inspected, and sold. We 
have no doubt that the inhabitants of Midwout early 
engaged in the production; of this article. (See Thomp- 
son's History of Long-Island for the Tobacco Statute, 
page 177.) Great attention too was paid to the raising 
of Barley. Vast quantities of malt liquors were made 
in New- Amsterdam, and of consequence, a ready market 
was there found for this article, ft became in some 
subsequent years almost the staple of this part of Long- 
Island ; so much so, that 20,000 bushels of Barley were 
annually sold from Flatbush alone. 

Van der Donk, in his History of New-Netherlands, 
which was published in 1655, also states that much atten- 
tion was paid by the Dutch agriculturalists to the cultiva- 
tictn of the best vegetables and fruits of various kinds • 
arid a great variety of beautiful flowers. 

Nothing of very special interest occurred in Flatbush, 
from the date which we have last mentioned, until the pe- 
riod of the surrender of the country to the English, which 
took place in the year 1664. The number of the inha- 
bitants in the town, appears to have increased quite 
rapidly up to this time, when it is supposed it contained 
a larger population than at the conclusion of the revolu.- 
tionary war, in 1783. 

We will be pardoned for digressing here for a few mo- 
ments, for the purpose of narrating the manner, and some 
of the terms and conditions, on which the surrender of the 
country was made to the English authorities. King 
Charles, by Letters Patent, granted to his brother, James, 
the Duke of York, his heirs and assigns, Long-Island, all 
Hudsons' River, and all lands from the west side of Con- 
necticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay, together 
with all royalties and right of government. This embra- 



19 



ced all the countries then governed by the Dutch. Soon 
after the grant of this Patent, King Charles despatched a 
small force, for the purpose of subduing the country. 
The Dutch inhabitants were apprized of the designs of 
the English, by the vigilance of Governor Stuyvesant, 
. who had received information, that an expedition was pre- 
paring against them, consisting of three vessels, of forty 
or fifty guns each, having on board about three hundred 
soldiers, and laying at Plymouth in England, waiting for 
a fair wind. The Dutch authorities were called togeth- 
er, by their Governor, and they ordered the fort to be put 
m the best state oi: defence. As soon as the vessels arrived 
in the outer harbor of New- York, which was in August, 
1664, Governor Stuyvesant sent a polite note to the En- 
glish commander, dated, August 19th, 1664, desiring the 
reason of their approach and continuance in the harbor 
without giving the Dutch notice. This letter was sent by 
John Declyer, one of the chief council, the Rev. John 
Megapolensis, minister, Paul Lunden Vander Grilft and 
Mr. Samuel Megapolensis, doctor of physic. On the next 
day, Col. Richard Nicolls, who was the commander of the 
expedition, and was clothed with the powers of Governor, 
sent an answer, and demanded a surrender of the country. 
In this document he informed Governor Stuyvesant, tliat 
he had been sent out by the King of England, for the 
maintainance of his unquestionable rights, and that he had 
been commanded to demand the surrender of the country, 
and in his name he now required such surrender. He 
however assured him, that every Dutch inhabitant who 
should readily submit to the King of England, should be 
secured in his estate, life and liberty. He despatched 
the summ.ons by four persons, through whom he expected 
to receive an answer. These persons were George Cart- 



20 



Wright, one of his Majesty's commissioners in America, 
Captain Robert Needham, Captain Edward Groves and 
Mr. Thomas Delavall. 

Governor Stuyvesant promised an answer the next 
morning, and in the mean time convened the council and 
BurcTomasters. He was, unquestionably a brave soldier, 
andliad lost a leg in the service of his country, and was 
desirous to defend the place by all the means in his pow- 
er. He therefore refused both to the inhabitants and the 
Burgomasters a sight of the summons, lest the easy terms 
proposed might induce them to capitulate. The inhabi- 
tants were called together at the Staatds House, and 
informed of the Governor's refusal. On the 2d day 
of September, 1664, the Burgomasters came in coun- 
cil, and demanded to see the summons, which the Go- 
vernor then in a fit of anger tore to pieces. But not- 
withstanding the yielding disposition of the inhabitants to 
the British commissioners, which arose, no doubt, from a 
growing discontent with the Dutch government, which 
had exFsted for several years in the country. Governor 
Stuyvesant resolved upon a vigorous resistance, and sent 
to the English commander a long letter, vindicating the 
justice of the Dutch claims to the territory which they oc- 
cupied. 

While the Governor and council were contending with 
the Burgomasters and people, in the city of New- Amster- 
dam, the English commissioners published a proclama- 
tion in the country, encouraging the inhabitants to sub- 
mit, and promising them all the privileges of British sub- 
jects Many, on discovering from Governor Stuyvesant's 
letter which was then likewise published, that he was 
avers'e to the surrender, being fearful of the impending 
storm, resolved to join the strongest party, and began to 



21 

beat up for volunteers, particularly on Long-Island. 
The Governor being thus invaded by a foreign foe, 
and threatened to be deserted by those on whose friend- 
ship he had depended, perceiving that resistance would 
only occasion a wanton effusion of blood, agreed to 
appoint six distinguished citizens on his part, who, in 
conjunction with an equal number of British commis- 
sioners should conclude a treaty for the surrender of 
the country. 

The commissioners on the part of the Dutch were 

John D. Deckai% 

Nicholas Verleet, 

Samuel Megapolensis, 

Oleffe Stevens Van Kortlandt, 

James Cousseau, 

Cornelius Steenwick, 
On the part of the English, they were 

Robert Carr, 

George Carteret, 

John Winthrop, 

Samuel Willys, 

Thomas Clarke, 

John Pinchen. 
This treaty was agreed upon. It consisted of twenty- 
three articles, of which it is sufficient to give the outlines 
of some of the most prominent. The Staats General, or 
the Dutch West India Company were to enjoy all farms 
and houses except those in the forts, and had liberty with- 
in six months to transport all arms and ammunition which 
belonged to them. The people might remain free 
denizens, and occupy or dispose of their lands, houses and 
goods, as they pleased. They were to enjoy free liberty 
of conscience, and retain their own customs respecting 



22 

their inheritances. No judgment which had passed any 
of the courts of judicature could be called in question, and 
all previous differences respecting contracts, were to be 
determined according to the manner of the Dutch. No 
Dutchman nor Dutch ships could be pressed to serve in 
war against any nation whatever, and no soldiers quarter- 
ed on the inhabitants. luferior civil officers might con- 
tinue to fill their stations till the customary time of a new 
election, and the inhabitants were entitled to choose depu- 
ties, who should have free voices in all public affairs. 
The soldiers were to march out with the honors of war, 
and each of them who chose to remain in the country was 
entitled to fifty acres of land. The Articles were approv- 
ed by Colonel Richard NicoUs, on the 7th, of September, 
and on the 9th, of September, 1664, by Governor Stuy- 
vesant. 

About the time of the surrender of the country to the 
Duke of York, there appears to have been a considerable 
contest as to the boundary line between the towns of Mid- 
wout and New-Amersfort, which was attended with fre- 
quent collisions, and particularly so, in the mowing and 
ingathering of hay on the Canarsee meadows. This even- 
tually led to an application to Governor Richard NicoUs 
for the settlement of the subject in controversy, between 
the contending parties. Governor NicoUs in the year 
1666 appointed arbitrators to view and settle the matters 
in difference between them. The arbitrators thus appoint- 
ed, accordingly met, for the purpose of viewing the pre- 
mises and issuing the differences between these towns on 
the 17th, of October, 1666. They were accompanied by 
many of the inhabitants, and after a careful survey, a 
designated line was agreed upon. The line thus consent- 
ed to was designated by marked trees, wherever practica- 



23 



ble, and in other instances, by prominent stakes, or a fence 
set up between the two towns. In the Canarsee mea- 
dows, which were esteemed valuable at that time, it was 
described with greater precision, and was designated by 
an mstrument similar to the mariners compass, and was 
to run according to the terms of Governor Stuyvesant's 
Patent, granted to Midwout, in 1656, from the woodland 
to the mouth of the kill or creek, (now called the first 
creek, or Vanderveer's mill creek,) with an East line half 
a pomt northerly, without variation of comnass. The 
.award and determination of the arbitrators was made to 
Governor Nicolls, in accordance to the above arrange- 
ment, and the line being marked, and staked out, in con- 
formity thereto, the award received his approbation and 
sanction, on the 20th, day of April, 1667. 

This controversy being thus happily terminated, and 
the southern boundary of the town permanently fixed, 
the mhabitants of Flatbush, in the year 1667, applied to 
Governor Nicolls for a confirmatory grant, to secure them 
m their possessions, as he was required to do, by virtue, 
and in pursuance of the Articles of capitulation. On the 
11th, of October, in the year 1667, the Governor granted 
letters patent, to the freeholders and inhabitants of Mid- 
wout, alias Flatbush, of which, the following is a conden- 
sed abstract : 

" Richard Nicolls, Esq. &c. Whereas there is a cer- 
tain town within this government, known by the name of 
Midwout, alias Flatbush, &c. now for a confirmation, &c. 
Know ye that I have given, ratified, confirmed and grant- 
ed unto Mr. Johannes Megapolensis, one of the ministers of 
this city, Mr. Cornelius Van Ruyven, one of the justices 
of the peace, Adrian Hegeman, Jan Snediger, Jan Stry. 
ker, Frans Barents Pastor, Jacob Stryker, and Cornelius 



Janse Bougaert, as Patentees, for, and on behalf, of them- 
selves and associates, freeholders and inhabitants of the 
said town, their heirs, successors and assigns; All that 
tract, together with the several parcels of land, which al- 
ready have, or hereafter shall be purchased or procured 
for, and on behalf of the said town ; whether from the na- 
tive Indian proprietors or others, within the bounds and 
limits hereafter set forth and expressed, viz : That is to 
say : The said town is bounded to the south by the Hills, 
to the north by the fence lately sett between them and 
the town of Amersfort, alias Flatlands : Beginning at a 
certain tree, standing upon the Little Flats, marked by or- 
der and determination of several arbitrators, appointed by 
me, to view and issue the differences between the two 
towns, concerning the same, which accordingly they did, 
upon the 17th, day of October, 1666, and to the east and 
west by the common woodlands, including two Flats, 
heretofore called by the names of Corlers and Twillei-s 
Flats, which lye to the east of the town : As also a par- 
cel of meadow ground or valley on the east northeast 
side of the Canarsee planting land, and having to the 
south the meadow ground belonging to Amersfort, alias 
Flatlands, according to the division made by an east line 
"unning half a point northerly, between them, without va- 
cation of the compass, and so to go to the mouth of the 
>eek or Kill ; which said meadows were upon the 20th, 
>f April last, by common consent staked out, and by my 
i.pprobation allowed of : All which said tracts and par- 
;els of land, meadow ground, &c. Dated, October, 11th, 
.667." * 

The first settlers of Midwout, or Flatbush, were a bar- 
!y body of farmers, inured to labor, and acquainted more 
)r less, with some mechanical trade. This was calculate 



25 



ed to promote their domestic comfort, to render themselves 
useful to one another, and make them quite independent of 
extraneous aid. It is worthy of remark, that it was a ge- 
neral rule for every parent to cause his sons to be in- 
structed in some useful mechanical business, although in- 
tended for farmers, and that this practice was invariably 
continued until the commencement of the revolutionary 
war. In the original subdivisimi of the town amongst 
the different proprietors, it will be perceived, as above -sta- 
ted, that the allotments of land were made only for those 
who intended to obtain the means of subsistence by the 
cultivation of the earth. There was therefore no provi- 
sion as yet made for mechanics, who might desire to make 
a permanent residence here. Upon the introduction of a 
few mechanics, it jvas perceived that from the ability and 
employments of the inhabitants generally, there was but lii- 
tie prospect of their be^able to support themselves, and 
their families in any comfortable way, without the culti- 
vation of soii^e land, at least for family subsistence. The 
attention of the inhabitants was directed to this subject, 
and the church lands were thereupon divided into suitable 
and convenient parcels, so as to accommodate the mecha- 
nics, and let to them for low and reasonable rents. A 
tract of woodland was also purchased and patented, ly- 
ing to the east of the town and north of what is called 
Flatlands Neck, expressly for the benefit of the mecha- 
nics, and appropriately called Renters Hook, or Mecha- 
nics Hook. The inhabitants of the town were at, and 
about that time, divided into two classe^^ called Keuiers 
or mechanics, and Boers, or Farmers ; and this distinc- 
tion was kept up for years afterwards. The date of the 
Patent of Keuters Hook cannot now be ascertained with 

3 



26 

precision, but was probably not very long after the sur- 
render of the country to the English. 

About this time the court was removed from Flatbush 
to Gravesend. This was no doubt, in consequence of the 
latter town being chiefly settled by English emigrants, 
and the authorities were disposed from this circumstance to 
favor them. The first records of the court, now in the 
Clerk's office of the county, are dated at Gravesend, in 
the years 1668. — 69. 

Shortly after the surrender of the colony to the English, 
the towns of Brooklyn, Bushwick, Midwout, or Flatbush, 
Amersford, or Flatlands, and New-Utrecht, were formed 
into a separate district, for certain purposes, by the name 
of the " Five Dutch Towns." For these towns a Secreta- 
ry or Clerk, was specially appointed, whose duties appear 
to have been confined to the taking acknowledgments of 
transports and marriage settlements, and proof of wills, 
&c. In 1674, this office was held by " Nicasius De Sille, 
in the absence of Sr. Ffrancis De Brugh." He was suc- 
ceeded in the year 1675, by Machiel Hainelle, who had 
been schoolmaster in Flatbush during the previous year. 
In the acknowledgments which he took, he styles himself 
" Clerk." In the same year the court of Sessions for the 
West Riding of Yorkshire,* which then sat in Gravesend, 
after setting forth the appointment of Hainelle, and call- 
ing him " Secretary," declared, " It is the opinion of the 
court, that for what publique or private business he shall 
doe, he ought to have reasonable satisfacon." 
iiji^ 

* The West Riding was composed of the towns of Brooklyn, Bush- 
wich, Flatbush, Flatlands, New-Utrecht and Gravesend, together with 
Staten Island and Newtown. 



27 

New Lots, which was originally called Ostwout, or 
East- Woods, on account of its lying east of Midwout or 
the Old Town of Flatbush, was no doubt purchased and 
procured from the native Indian proprietors, by the inha- 
bitants of Midwout. But at what particular time cannot 
be distinctly ascertained. It was probably not far from 
the period when the Patent of Governor Nicolls was grant- 
ed, which was in 1667. It was a tract of woodland co- 
vered with the same description of timber as that of Mid- 
wout. Its situation was also somewhat similar, having 
the Hills on the north, the Bay, which was then called the 
Sea, on the south, and extending easterly to the bounds 
of Jamaica. An extensive tract of meadows was includ- 
ed in these limits, lying in front of the upland, and ex- 
tending to the Bay. All this land appears to have been 
subdivided in the same manner, as Midwout, or the Old 
Town of Flatbush, and the church also received its share 
in such allotment, with the inhabitants of the town. The 
meadow was, without doubt, also subdivided about the 
same time, and similarly allotted, as the Upland. This 
opinion appears to be confirmed by the fact, that the first 
conveyances of land recorded in the town records always 
include one or more parcels of meadow therewith. The 
meadows must also have been esteemed valuable, on ac- 
count of producing spontaneously an annual crop of hay, 
and that, without previous labor or tillage. This tract of 
country generally was called the New Lands, and princi- 
pally settled by the inhabitants of Midwout, or the Old 
Town, and afterwards assumed the name of the New- 
Lots. The Patent for this was obtained under the ad- 
ministration of Sir, Edmond Andros, the second English 
Governor, to which we shall advert presently. 

In the year 1665, a meeting of delegates from the seve- 
ral towns on Long-Island, was held at Hempstead, for the 



28 

purpose of adjusting any conflicting claims to lands, and 
settling the boundaries of the several towns, and of receiv- 
ing and acknowledging the code of laws, which had been 
prepared by the Duke of York, for the government of the 
Colony, commonly called the " Dukes Laws." At this 
meeting the Grovernor himself attended, and the delegates 
were so much gratified with his manners, and the liberal 
views which he professed on the occasion, that they drew 
up, and signed an address to His Royal Highness, the 
Duke of York, full of gratitude and loyalty, but at which, 
as soon as their constituents found that they were to have 
no voice in the selection of magistrates, or a share in le- 
gislation, they manifested their disapprobation, and censu- 
red the deputies with so much severity, that the civil au- 
thorities thought it necessary to interfere. And accord- 
ingly, at a court of Assize, held in October, 1666, it was 
resolved that whoever thereafter should detr-act, or speak 
against any of the deputies, signing the address to His 
Royal Highness, at the general meeting at Hempstead, 
should be presented to the next court of Sessions : and if 
the justices should see cause, they should thence be bound 
over to the Assizes, there to answer for the slander by 
plaint or information. 

The delegates who attended this convention from Flat- 
bush, and signed the address, were John Stiyker and 
Hendrick Gucksen. It is not necessary here to give any 
summary of the Dukes Laws, which were then promul- 
gated, and continued to be the law of the land until OctO' 
ber, 1683. There are in them many quite curious provi- 
sions. There was nothing in them peculiar to any town, 
except the fixing the mark by which horses were to be 
branded. Each town was required to have a marking or 
flesh brand for this purpose. The town mark for Flat- 
bush was the letter O. 



29 

It is probable that at this assembly, which fixed the 
bounds of the several towns, the names of many of them 
were altered. The town of Rutsdorpe, was called Jamai- 
ca, Amersfort was changed to Flatlands, Middleburgh to 
Newtown, and Midwout to Flatbush, or Flakkebos, that is, 
Flat Woods. This name was given to it from its being 
situated on an apparently level plain, and surrounded on 
almost every side by woods. But it is here proper to re- 
mark, that the ground in and about Flatbush, is far from 
being a dead level. It is an inclined plane gradually ex- 
tending and lessening in inclination to its southern boun- 
dary. Hence, here are no stagnant pools or marshes, but 
all surplus water from rains and storms, passes off gradu- 
ally, but yet in a very short period to the ocean. This 
renders the situation of the town healthful, and hence it 
has seldom if ever, been visited with any prevailing epide- 
mic. 

The tract of country now comprising the town of Flat- 
bush as we have stated, was originally obtained by pur- 
chase from the Canarsee Indians, who were the true and 
original owners. The first Dutch settlers of the town, in 
their various purchases of the Indian proprietors, dealt fair- 
ly and honorably with them. They did not drive them from 
their possessions by force, but gave what was then esteem- 
ed by themselves to be a valuable consideration, for their 
lands. This integrity and uprightness of conduct, secured 
a lasting friendship with the Canarsee Indians, which con- 
tinued till the total extinction of that Tribe. These 
purchases were confirmed to the inhabitants of Flatbush 
by sundry Patents, issued to them by the Dutch and En- 
glish Governors. 

The inhabitants continued in the peaceable enjoyment of 
these premises thus obtained, withoutany claim, hindrance 
or molestation, from any person or persons, until the year 

3* 



30 

1670, when Eskemoppas, Sachem of Rockaway, and his 
two brothers, laid claim to the same, as the true Indian 
owners and proprietors thereof. There can be no doubt, 
that this claim was ill founded, but the Dutch inhabitants 
of the town for the purpose of quieting the title to their 
possessions, consented to take a conveyance from him and 
his two brothers, for which they paid a valuable considera- 
tion, which is set forth in a schedule subjoined to their 
deed. It may be gratifying to some to know tho- terms of 
this purchase, a-nd the contents of this ancient document. 
The Deed is as follows : — " To all christian people to 
whom this present writing shall come : Eskemoppas, Sa- 
chem of Rockaway, upon Long Island, Kinnarimas and 
Ahawaham, his brothers, send greeting : Whereas they 
the said Sachem, Eskemoppas and his two brothers, 
aforementioned, do lay claim to the land now in the ten- 
ure and occupation of the inhabitants of Midvv^out, alias 
Flatbush, as well as to other lands thereto adjacent, as the 
right born Indian owners, and proprietors thereof: Know 
ye, that for, and in consideration of certain sums of see. 
want, a certain sum of wampum and divers other goods 
(hereinafter specified,) unto the said Sachem, and his bro- 
thers, in hand paid, and received, from Adrian Hegeman, 
Jacob Stryker, Hendrich Jorise and Jan Hansen, for and on 
behalf of themselves and the rest of tlie inhabitants of Mid- 
wout, alias Flatbush, the receipt whereof they do hereby 
acknowledge, and themselves to be fully satisfied and 
paid : Have given, granted, contracted and sold, and by 
these presents, freely and absolutely do give, grant, bar- 
gain and sell, unto the said Adrian Hegeman, Jacob Stry^ 
ker, Hendrick Jorise and Jan Hansen, for and in behalf 
of themselves and the inhabitants aforesaid, their heirs 
and successors : All that parcel and tract of land where 
the said town of Midwout stands, together with all the 



31 

lands lying therein, stretching on the east side to the 
limits of Newtown and Jamaica, on the south side 
to the meadow ground and limits of Amersfort ; on 
the west side to the bounds of Gravesend and New- 
Utrecht, and on the north side along the Hills ; that 
is to say, all those lands within the limits aforementioned 
that have not been already purchased by any of the inha- 
bitants of the town aforementioned, nor is granted to any 
in their respective Patents. And also excepting such 
meadow or valley in the possession of the said inhabitants 
and in their Patent particularly set forth. To have and 
to hold, all the said parcel and tract of land and premises 
together with all and singular, every thing thereunto be- 
longing, or in any wise appertaining, as before mentioned, 
together with the said valley or meadow ground, unto the 
said Adrian Plegeman, Jacob Stryker, Hendrick Jorise and 
Jan Hansen, for, and on behalf of this inhabitants afore- 
said, their heirs and successors, to the proper use and be- 
half of the said inhabitants, their heirs and successors for- 
ever. In witness whereof, the parties to these presents 
have hereunto set their hands and seals, this 20th, day of 
April, in the 22d, year of his Majesty's Reign, in the year 
of our Lord, 1670. 



ESKEMOPPAS, 


£ 


mark, 


(seal.) 


KINNARIMAS, 


\ 


mark. 


(seal.) 


AHAWAHAM, 


^ 


mark, 


(seal.) 


Signed and delivered 









in the presence of 

Thomas Lovelace, 
Cornelius Van Ruyven. 

Recorded the day and year within written, 

Per Mathias Nicolls, Secretary, 



32 

The payment agreed upon for the purchase herein 
mentioned, was as follows : viz : 

10 Fathoms of black seewant or (wampum.) 
10 Fathoms of white seewant or (wampum.) 
5 Match coats of Dufiells. 

4 Blankets. 

2 Gunners sight guns. 
2 Pistols. 

5 Double handfulls of Powder, (gispen bunches of 

powder.) 

5 Bars of Lead. 
10 Knives. 

2 Secret aprons of Duffells, (Cuppas of Duffell.) 
1 Half fat or halfbarrell of Stronor Beer. 

3 Cans of Brandy. 

6 Shirts. 

All the above particulars were received by the Sachem, 
and his two brothers, in the presence of the persons under 
written, as witnesses hereof. 

John Manning, 

Sylvester Salisbury, 

John Hough, 

Jacob Van Cortlandt, i ^i j t i 

m • T u TT f supposed J udffes or 

leunis Jacob Hay, > t \ • ^*i d 

-r^ 1 j^ T 1 t Justices 01 the Peace. 

Jbdward Carlisle. } 

Acknowledged before me, the Sachem and his two bro- 
thers, and the goods delivered in my presence, the day 
and year within written. 

FRANCIS LOVELACE." 

It was one of the provisions of the Duke's Laws, that 
no purchase of land from the Indians should be valid with- 
out a licence from the Governor to make such purchase, 
and the purchaser was required to bring the Sachem or 



■ 55.- 



33 

right owner, before the Governor, to confess satisfaction. 
It was in accordance with this provision, that not only Jus- 
tices were appointed to superintend the above purchase, 
but the Sachem and his brothers appeared before Gover- 
nor Lovelace, and in his presence the payments were 
made, and the purchase concluded. The provisions rela- 
tive to purchases from the Indians, to which we have 
alluded, were subsequently adopted, and embodied in a 
specific act, by the first Colonial Assembly, which met in 
the year 1683, under Governor Dongan. 

So much of the land thus acquired as the inhabitants of 
Flatbush had occasion for, they took up, enclosed, and 
improved. The rest was left in common, until by the in- 
crease of their population it should be needed. They re- 
mained thus in quiet possession of all their lands until the 
year 1675, when Captain Richard Betts laid claim to a 
certain parcel or tract, lying in the New Lots, for which 
he said he had obtained a deed from the Indians, of prior 
date to the one just recited, given in the year 1663. We 
are not able to locate precisely the premises thus called 
in question. The matter was tried at the court of Ses- 
sions, held in Gravesend, for that year, when the deed of 
Mr. Betts was allowed, and a verdict given in his favor. 
But an appeal was taken by the inhabitants of the town, 
to the General Court of Assizes, which was holden in the 
same year, 1675, in the city of New- York. Hereupon 
a full and fair hearing of the case, the verdict rendered at 
the court of Sessions was set aside, and the court ordered, 
as follows : — " That the land shall lye in common to 
fflatbush, and the townes adjacent, as it heretofore hath 
been, and that the towns who have the beneffitof the com- 
onage shall pay their equall proportion of the purehaso 
money to the Indyans and costs of this suite," 



34 

It was probably in consequence of this suit, that the in- 
habitants of Flatbush sought and obtained a separate pa- 
tent for that part of the town called New-Lots. This was 
granted by Gov. Edmond Andros on the 25th day of March, 
in the year 1677, to Arian Lamberse and others, to the 
number of thirty-seven persons. This Patent we have not 
been able to procure. It was probably granted on condi- 
tion of the payment of a certain quit rent to the Governor, 
which opinion is confirmed from the fact, that complaint 
was subsequently made to the court of Sessions, held at 
Gravesend, against the constable of New Lots, for not ta- 
king up and paying over the same, upon which diverse or- 
ders were passed by the court relating thereto. About 
the time of the settlement of New Lots, several of the in- 
habitants of Midwout, or Flatbush, also removed to New- 
Jersey, and formed settlements on the Raritanand Milstone 
rivers, and also in the county of Monmouth, then called 
Neversink. Their numerous descendents now occupy 
these and other different parts of New-Jersey. 

Shortly after this period, it would appear from some re- 
cords of the Court of Sessions, held at Gravesend, that 
there was some dissatisfaction between the towns of Flat- 
bush and Flatlands, relative to their boundary line. It 
was fixed under the administration of Governor Nicolls, in 
the year 1666. But another award and agreement on the 
subject was made, bearing date the 11th day of May, 1677. 
What the precise terms of this agreement were, we are un- 
able to tell, as we have not been able to find the document. 
But not long after, it appears from the following extracts, 
from the records of the court, that the town of Flatlands 
complained of some trespass committed by the inhabitants 
of the town of Flatbush. At the session of the court held 
June 1679, we find the following record. "The inhabitants 



35 

of fflatlands, complayning that the inhabitants of Flatbush 
have trespassed upon the land belonging to fflatlands 
aforesaid, contrary to an award made and agreed upon 
between both towns, and an order of court punctually to 
observe the same, which being proved by the constable, 
and one of the oversees of Flatlands, aforesaid, and they 
not appearing to answer the complaint, and for their con- 
tempt in not observing the said award and order of court. 
The court orders that the said inhabitants shall pay as a 
jfine to the publique, the sum of ten pounds, and to observe 
the said order of court. They also complayn, that the 
inhabitants of Flatbush have chopt of the marke of a tree, 
&c. To be deferred to the next court of Sessions, and 
they to have notice of it to answer the same." 

In December of the same year, (1679,) is the following 
record on the same subject. " The inhabitants of Flat- 
lands complain of the inhabitants of Flatbush, for trespass- 
ing on their lands, contrary to an award made and agreed 
upon as hath formerly been made appear, and the said in- 
habitants of Flatbush fined the last court, the sum of ten 
pounds, for not observing the said award and agreement. 
Severall debates arising about running the line, the court 
being satisfyed the inhabitants of Flatbush committed a 
trespass upon the inhabitants of Flatlands, doe order that 
the said fine shall be forthwith paid, or else execucon to 
issue forth for the same. The defendants moved for an 
appeal, which is granted." 

We might here introduce several somewhat curious ex- 
tracts from the minutes of the court of Sessions, relative 
to the town. We will simply present the following : 

In 1681, it is recorded, " The court doe order, that John 
Gerritson Van Marken, shall deliver up to the constable 
and overseers of Flatbush, all the books and writings be- 



36 

longing to the town aforesaid, which, if he shall refuse to 
deliver, that then the constable of the said town is hereby- 
ordered and empowered to take them from the said Mar- 
ken." 

In the same year, " There being a strange man in the 
custody of the constable of Flatbush, and no person lay- 
ing claim to him, the court order ye man shall be apprais- 
ed and sold, and if any person shall hereafter lay lawful 
claim to him, and desire to have him again, he paying 
what lawful charges are out upon him, may have him 
again." 

In the same year, (1681,) is the following : " At the re- 
quest of some of the inhabitants of Flatbush, this court doe 
order, that the constable of the town give speedy notice to 
the inhabitants, that they forthwith fence their cornfields, 
and after legal warning given, any person shall be found 
defective herein, that then said person or persons, so offen- 
ding, shall be proceeded against, according to law, and to 
be complained against at the next Sessions." 

In 1682, is the following : "Upon the complaint of the 
constable of Flatbush, that there are severall persons in 
the said town, who doe refuse to pay there minister. The 
court doe order, that such persons who shall refuse to pay 
their said minister, it shall betaken from them by distress." 
From the general prevalence of the voluntary principle 
at the present day, in the support of the gospel, and the 
abolishing of the unholy union of church and state, we 
look almost with wonder at such provisions and enact- 
ments. 

In the year 1683, there is another record relative to 
an alleged trespass by the inhabitants of Flatbush, upon 
the town of Flatlands, of nearly the same import with the 
one which we have quoted above, but we need not recite it. 



37 

In 1685, in an action between Derick Storm, and the in- 
habitants of Flatbush, it is recorded, " An agreement 
read between Storm and Joseph Hegeman, Cornelius Ber- 
rian, John Stryker, William Guilliamsen, and others, in 
behalf of ye town of Fflatbush, uppon which, Storm prayed 
a sallarry, may be allowed him, for serving the town as 
schoolmaster to their children. Ordered that Court 
Steephens and Symou Jansen, exaniine ye accounts, and 
agreement between them, and these partys to stand to 
their determination." 

In the same year, Theodorus Polhemus, for refusing to 
stand constable for Flatbush, although legally elected, 
was by the court fined five pounds to the public. 

On the 7th, of November, 1685, at the session of the 
second colonial assembly, held under the administration 
of Governor Dongan, an act was passed for removing the 
court of Sessions of Kings county, from Gravesend to 
Flatbush. The cause for this, stated in the preamble of 
the act, is the inconvenience to which the inhabitants of the 
county are subjected, in travelling so far as Gravesend. 
Flatbush is about the geographical centre of the county of 
Kings, and afforded in this respect the most eligible place 
for holding the courts and presented the least disadvanta- 
ges to the inhabitants of the county, who might have ju- 
dicial business to attend to. It was thenceforth named as 
the seat of justice for the county, and continued such till 
the year 1832, when the court-house was destroyed by 
fire. A court-house was accordingly erected in Flatbush, 
in 1686, for the accommodation of the county, on the spot 
of ground which is still called the court-house lot. It re- 
mained till a larger one was built in the year 1758, an 
account of which we shall subsequently give. 

4 



38 

A controversy arose as early as 1678, between Flat- 
bush and Brooklyn, relative the boundary line between 
the respective towns. The northern boundary of the 
town of Flatbush according to their purchase from the In- 
dian proprietors and the patent which they had obtained 
was described to be by the hills. The inhabitants of 
Brooklyn, contended that their right of ownership extend- 
ed to the foot of the hills, and that this was the true and 
proper boundary line between the two towns, and that the 
Indian conveyances to both parties would admit of this 
and of no other construction. The inhabitants of Mid- 
wout on the other hand, contended, that such a construc- 
tion of their northern boundary interfered with their just 
rights, and would lead to great embarrassment, doubt and 
uncertainty ; nay, that from the general surface of the 
town of Flatbush, being an inclined plane, gradually slo- 
ping to the south, such a construction would locate their 
northern boundary in the town of Flatlands, and perhaps 
even in the Bay, or waters edge. In consequence of this 
difference, the matter was submitted to the decision of the 
Court of Sessions. At a session of that court, held at 
Gravesend, on the 18th, of December, 1678, the subject 
of difference was, by consent of both towns, referred to 
Captain Jaques Cortelyou, and Captain Richard Stillwell, 
to decide, and it was ordered that their " report should be 
determinative." Messrs. Cortelyou and Stillwell complied 
with the requisition of the court, and five years after- 
wards submitted the following report. 

" To the Worshipfull Court of Sessions, now sitting at 
Gravesend, June 21st, 1683. These may certifie, that in 
obedience to an order from said court, and by consent of 
both towns, ofBrooklyn and Flatbush, to runnthe line be- 



39 

twixt the said townes which are we underwritten have 
done, and marked the trees betwixt towne and towne, 
as wittnesse our hands, the daye and yeare above written, 

JACQUES CORTELYOU, 
RICHARD STILLWELL." 

One of the trees thus marked by these arbitrators was 
a large white oak, standing near what is called the Port 
Road, and mentioned in the Patent granted by Governor 
Dongan, as one of the boundaries of the town. This tree 
remained till the time of the revolutionary war, when it 
was cut down by the Americans, and fallen across the 
road for the purpose of intercepting the British. A red 
free stone monument, with a proper inscription has subse- 
quently been set up, at and near the stump of this tree, 
(which is yet in existence) by General Jeremiah Johnson, 
on the part of Brooklyn, and John C. Vanderveer, Esq. on 
the part of Flatbush. But unfortunately the stone has 
been so defaced by certain persons, who seem to take de- 
light in mutilating every thing, that only a few letters of 
the inscription can now be decyphered. 

The award of Messrs. Cortelyou and Stillwell, relative 
to the boundary line, notwithstanding the order of the 
court, appears not to have been " determinative." For 
in the next year, 1684, the line was run out by Philip 
Wells, a surveyor of Staten Island, and Jacobus Cortland, 
who were appointed for this purpose, by the two towns. 

The certificate of these gentlemen, is in the words fol- 
lowing : " To satisffie whom itt may concerne, that I be- 
ing with Mr. Jacobus Cortland, about the 20th, day off 
November, 1684, imployed by Breuckland and Fflack- 
bush, to vew and run out the line betweene the two 
townes, to the south of the hills, found that the line run 



40 

fformerly by Capts. Jaques Cortelyou and Mr. Stilwell, 
is right and just, which wee both being agreed, give in our 
approbation of the same. 

PHILIP WELLS, Surveyor:' 

Staaten-Island, in the County of Richmond, ^ 
this 4th, day of April, 1687." \ 

Notwithstanding this, differences continued tO' exist for 
some years subsequently, but at length they have been 
amicably settled, upon the following principles, viz : That 
the summit of the hills or the first perceptible southerly 
declivity of any hill, should be deemed and taken as the 
fixed and determined line, and wherever the hills are cut 
off or interrupted by an intervening valley or hollow, the 
boundary line should extend in the shortest possible direc- 
tion, from the summit of one hill to that of the opposite one. 
In conformity with this determination, proper monuments 
have been placed on the boundary lines, to prevent, if pos- 
sible, all future disputes. 

At an early period distinctive names were given to the 
several parts of the village of Flatbush. The north end 
was called Steenraap or Stone Gathering ; the south end, 
Rustenburgli, or resting place ar borough ; while the centre 
was denominated Dorp, or the Town. The Dutch words 
appropriated to either end of the village were appropriate, 
inasmuch as the ground on the north end of the town con- 
tains many small stones, on, and just below the surface, 
while comparatively few of these are found in the south 
end, which in consequence is more easy to cultivate. In 
the northern section of the town, on the farm now in posses- 
sion of the Widow Lefferts, were erected at an early period, 
two brick kilns, one on the back of the farm, and another 
near the large pond, not far from the main road, which from 



41 

this circumstance has obtained the name of the Stein 
Bakerie Pond. At these kilns brick were burnt for the use 
of the inhabitants, but only small remains of them are now 
to be seen. 

On the 12th, day of November, 1685, the inhabitants of 
Flatbush applied to, and obtained from Colonel Thomas 
Dongan, the fourth English Governor of the Colony of New- 
York, a confirmatory Patent for the whole town, including 
the several former grants, or Patents of Midwout, or Flat- 
bush, the Canarsee Meadows, Renters Hook and Oustwout, 
or New-Lots. This Patent runs thus, to wit : 

" Thomas Dongan, Lieutenant Governor and Vice- 
Admiral of New- York, &c., under his majesty James the 
Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, 
France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &;c.. Supreme 
Lord and Proprietor of the Colony and Province of New- 
York and its dependencies in America. To all to whom 
these presents shall come, sendeth Greeting : Whereas, 
there is a certain town in Kings County, upon Long- 
Island, called and known by the name of Midwout, alias, 
Flatbush, the bounds whereof, begin at the mouth of the 
Fresh Kill, and so along by a certain Ditch which lies 
betwixt Amersfort and Flatbush Meadows, and so running 
along the ditch and fence to a certain white oak marked 
tree, and from thence upon a straight line to the western- 
most point of a small island of woodland lying before 
John Stryker's bridge ; and from thence with a straight 
line to the northwest hook or corner of the ditch of John 
Oakies meadow ; and from thence along the said ditch 
and fence to the swamp of the Fresh Kill, and so 
along the swamp and hollow of the aforesaid Kill to 
the land of Keuter's Hook ; thence along the same to a 
marked white oak tree; from thence with a straight line 

4* 



42 

to a black oak marked tree standing upon the northeast 
side of Twiller's Flats, hawing a small snip of flats upon 
the southeast side of the line ; and so from thence to a 
white oak tree standing to the west side of Moschito Hole 
to a small island, leaving a snip of flats in the Flatlands 
bounds; and from thence to a certain marked tree or 
stump, standing by the highway which goes to Flatlands 
upon the Little Flats, about twenty rods from Flatbush 
Lots, and so along the fence six hundred Dutch rods, to the 
corner of Flatbush fence, and so along the rear of the lots 
to a sassafras stump standing in Cornelius Jansen Ber- 
rian's lot of land ; and from thence with a straight line to a 
certain old marked tree or stump, standing by the Rush Pond 
under the hills, and so along upon the south side of the hill 
till it comes to the west end of the Long Hill,.a-nd so along 
upon the south side of the said hill, till it comes to the 
east end of the long hill ; and then with a straight line 
from the east end of the said long hill, to a marked white 
oak tree, standing to the west side of the road, near the 
place called the gate or port of hills ; and so from the east 
side of the port or gate aforesaid upon the south side of the 
main hills, as far as Brooklyn Patent doth extend ; and so- 
along the said hills to the bounds of Jamaica Patent ; and 
from thence with a southerly line, to the kill or creek by 
the east of the Plunders Neck, and so along the said kill ta 
the sea, as according to the several deeds or purchases 
from the Indian owners, the Patent from Governor Nicolls^ 
and the awai'd between Brooklyn and the town of Flatbush, 
Illation thereunto being had, doth more fully and at large 
appear; And, whereas, application to me hath been made 
for a confirmation of the aforesaid tract and parcels of 
land and premises: Now Know ye, that by virtue of the 
commission and authority unto me given by his majesty,. 



43 

James the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scot- 
land, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, 
Supreme Lord and Proprietor of the Province of New- 
York, in consideration of the premises and thQ quit rent 
hereinafter reserved, I have given, granted, ratified and 
confirmed, and by these presents, do give, grant, ratify and 
confirm, unto Cornelius Vanderwyck, John Okie, Joseph 
Hegeman, Aries Jansen Vanderbilt, Lafford Pieterson, 
William Guilliamsen, Hendrick Williamse, Pieter Wil- 
liamse, Arien Ryers, Peter Stryker, John Stryker, John 
Remsen, Jacob Hendricks, Derick Vandervleet, Hendrick 
Ryck, Okie Johnson, Daniel Polhemus, Peter Lott, Cor- 
nelius Vanderveer, Derick Johnson Hooglandt, Denise 
Teunis, John Johnson, Ditimus Lewis Jansen, William- 
Jacobs, Hendrick Hegeman and Garrit Lubbertse, for and 
on the behalf of themselves and their associates, all the 
freeholders and inhabitants of the said town of Flatbush, 
and to their heirs and assigns forever, all the before recited 
tract and tracts, parcel and parcels, of land and islands 
within the said bounds and limits, together with all and 
singular, the woods, underwoods, plains, hills, meadows, 
pastures, quarries, marshes, waters, lakes, causeways, 
rivers, beaches, houses, buildings, fishing, hawking, hunt- 
ing and fowling, with all liberties, privileges, heredita- 
ments and appurtenances to the said tract of land and 
premises belonging, or in any wise appertaining : To have 
and to hold the said tract of land and premises before 
mentioned, and intended to be given, granted and con- 
firmed, unto the said Cornelius Vanderwyck, John Okie, 
Joseph Hegeman, Aries Jansen Vanderbilt, Lafibrd Pie- 
terson, William Guilliamsen, Hendrick Williamse, Peter 
Guilliamsen, Arien ^Ryers, Peter Stryker, John Stryker, 
John Remsen, Jacob Hendricks, Derick Vandervleet, 
Hendrick Ryck, Okie Johnson, Daniel Polhemus, Peter 



44 

Lott, Cornelius Vanderveer, Derick Johnson Hooglandt, 
Denise Teunis, John Johnson, Ditimus Lewis Jansen, 
William Jacobs, Hendrick Hegeman, and Garrit Lub- 
bertse, the said patentees and their associates, their heirs 
and assigns, forever. To be holden of his majesty in free 
and common soccage, according to the tenure of East 
Greenwick, in the county of Kent, in his majesty's king- 
dom of England : Yielding, rendering, and paying there- 
for, yearly, and every year, at the city of New- York, unto 
his majesty, his heirs or successors, or to his or their offi- 
cer or officers, as by him or them shall be appointed to re- 
ceive the same, eighteen bushels of good merchantable 
wheat, on or before the five and twentieth day of March^ 
yearly and every year. 

" In Testimony whereof, I have caused these presents to 
be entered upon record, in the Secretary's office in the said 
Province, and the seal thereof, have hereunto affixed, and 
signed with my hand, this twelfth day of November, in the 
first year of his majesty's reign. Anno Domini, 1685. 

THOMAS DONGAN." 

It will be perceived, that by the above recited Patent 
granted by Governor Dongan, to the freeholders and inha- 
bitants of the town of Midwout alias Flatbush, that the te- 
nure by which they held their lands is denominated a te- 
nure " in free and common soccage," The tenures of lands 
which were authoratively established in England, in the 
reign of William the Conqueror, were principally of two 
kinds, according to the services annexed. They were 
either denominated tenures by knight service, or tenures in 
free and common soccage. The tenures by knight service, 
in which the services were occasionaJly uncertain, were 
altogether of a military nature, and esteemed highly hono- 
rable according to the martial spirit of the times. These 



45 

tenures however, in addition to the obligation of fealty and 
the military services of forty days in a year, were subject 
to certain other hard conditions, which we need not here 
enumerate, but which gradually rendered them more and 
more oppressive and increased the power of the feudal 
lords. At length upon the restoration of Charles the Se- 
cond, to the crown of Great Britain, the tenure by knight 
service with all its grievous incidents, was abolished by 
law, and the tenure of land was, for the most part, turned 
into free and common soccage, and every thing oppressive 
in that tenure was alsp abolished. 

A soccage tenure according to which the town of Mid- 
wout, or Flatbush, was patented, denotes lands held by a 
fixed and determinate service which is not military nor in 
the power of the lord to vary at his pleasure. It was the 
certainty and specific nature of the service, duty, or rend- 
er, which made this species of tenure such a safeguard 
against the wanton exactions of the feudal lords, and ren- 
dered it of such inestimable value in view of the ancient 
English. It was deemed by them a point of the utmost im- 
portance, to change their tenures by knight service, into te- 
nures by soccage. 

All lands granted by Patent by Governor Dongan, and 
the other subsequent English governors, were in free and 
c-ommon soccage, and subject to an annual render or rent 
charge, called quit rent. In the Patent of the town of Mid- 
wout, this render or rent charge was fixed at eighteen bush- 
els of good winter merchantable wheat, to be yielded, ren- 
dered and paid yearly and every year, at the city of New- 
York, on or before the 25th, of March, in every year to the 
king, his heirs and successors, or to such officer or officers 
as he or they should appoint to receive the same. This 
render and delivery of wheat, was regularly and annually 



46 

made by the freeholders and inhabitants of this town, to an 
officer residing in the city of New- York, appointed to re- 
ceive the same, and styled " the Receiver General." The 
quit rent continued to be paid in kind, till it became more 
convenient for the inhabitants to pay, and the crown to re- 
ceive money, in the place of wheat. The Receiver 
General was then authorized and required in equity and 
good conscience, to estimate the standard value of wheat in 
money. According to his determination, wheat was valued 
in money, at four shillings and eight pence a bushel, New- 
York currency. This appears to have been the standard 
value thereof for years. From this time onward, the quit 
rents of the town were regularly paid in money, according 
to the then estimated value every year, until the 25th, day 
of March, 1762. Why the payments were not regularly 
and annually continued, from and after that time, does not 
appear. The delay may perhaps be ascribed to the agita- 
tions then existing in the country, caused by events 
which led to the war of the revolution. 

Soccage tenures are however considered by Chancellor 
Kent, from whose commentaries on American laws, the 
a,bove recited account of tenures is taken, as of feudal ex- 
traction, and retain some of the leading properties of feuds. 
But most of the feudal incidents and consequences of soc- 
cage tenures were expressly abolished in the State of New- 
York, shortly after the termination of the revolutionary 
war, and they are wholly and entirely annihilated by the 
Revised Statutes, which took effect on the 1st, of January ^^ 
1830. But soccage lands were not to be deemed discharg- 
ed of any rents, certain or other services, incident or be- 
longing to tenure in soccage, due to the people of the State 
(who were considered to stand in the place of the crown.) 
Therefore on the 1st, day of April, 1786, the Legislature 



47 

of this State passed an Act, entitled " An Act for the collec- 
tion and commutation of Quit Rents." By this act it is 
provided that it shall and may be lawful to, and for every 
person and persons, being citizens of the United States, who 
is, or shall be seized of any lands, or tenements, in this 
State, charged with an annual quit rent, to commute for 
the same, by paying fourteen shillings for every shil- 
ling, of such annual quit rent, at any time on or be- 
fore the first day of May, 1787, in any public secu- 
rities receivable in payment on sales of confiscated 
estates, or in any other securities or certificates, is- 
sued or to be issued by the Treasurer of this State, and 
at the same rate, such securities and certificates are re- 
ceivable in payment for confiscated estates, to the Treasur- 
er of this State, for the time being, for the use of the people 
of this State : and the said Treasurer shall, upon such pay- 
ment, give the person making such payment a receipt or 
certificate, expressing the sum paid, the annual quit rent 
in lieu of which the same is paid, and the land on which the 
said annual quit rent was charged or reserved, and shall 
enter the same receipt in a book, by him to be kept 
for that purpose, which receipt or certificate, or the 
entry thereof, shall be a good discharge of such quit rent 
forever. 

Incompliance with the provisions of the Act above recit- 
ed, the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush purchased pub- 
lic securities, to the amount of £162. 9. 0. which amount 
they paid to Gerard Bancker, the Treasurer of the State, on 
the 18th, day of December, 1786, and upon the payment 
thereof obtained from him the following receipt, or cer- 
tificate. 

'^Patent granted to the inhabitants of Flatbush, in Kings 
County, dated 12th November, 1685, Quit Rent, eighteen 
bushels wheat per annum. 



48 



years. 
Balance due 25th, March, 1765. 3 12 12. 

From 25th, March, 1765, 

to25th, Decern, 1786. y. m. 

21 9 

(Deduct for the period of revolution,) 8 



13 9 at 18 B. Wt. 

pr. Ann. 247i " Qs. 74 5 

14 years commut. 252 " 6^. 75 12 



£162 9 0. 



Received, 18th, December, 1786, from Philip Nagle, 
of Flatbush, Public Securities, which with the interest al- 
lowed thereon, amount to one hundred and sixty two 
pounds, nine shillings, in full, for arrears of Quit Rent, 
and commutation, for the future quit rents that would 
have arisen on the above described Patent. 

GERARD BANCKER, Treasurer/' 

£162 9 00. 

The town of Flatbush upon the payment of the above- 
mentioned sum of money, for arrears of quit rent, and com- 
mutation of future quit rents became exhonerated from all 
further exactions on the score of such rents. 

But to return from this digression, to the regular histo- 
ry of the town of Midwout, which was brought down to the 
time in which Governor Dongan administered the Coloni- 
al Government. The woodlands still remained in common 
and undivided, because the farms previously allotted, had 
all along furnished timber sufficient for building, fuel and 
other needful purposes. But as these resources began 
gradually to diminish, it became necessary as well as die- 



49 

tated by prudence, that some oider should be taken on the 
partition and division of the common woodlands. About 
the year 1700, these lands were surveyed, and laid off in 
separate allotments or grand divisions, and these were again 
severally subdivided into forty-eight smaller allotmentSjCor- 
responding with the original division of the town. These 
smaller allotments were all laid out in oblong forms with 
parallel lines, and usually containing about five acres 
apiece. Upon the completion of the survey, the several 
wood lots were allotted to the inhabitants of the town, in 
proportion to the farm lots by them respectively owned, 
and the church drew its proportionate share with the 
several owners. 

The meadows had been previously subdivided into 
similar lots, and allotted in like manner, with the excep- 
tion of one lot in the Canarsee Meadows, which was set 
apart for the use of the schoolmaster, for the time being. 
Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, so called after the names 
of the original purchasers, Anthony Van Corlaer and Wou- 
ter Van Twiller, the first Dutch governor, were also pre- 
viously subdivided, but not fully alloted, with the exception 
of a small tract of woodland lying between, and adjoining 
these Flats, which was assigned to some of the patentees, 
and a lot reserved for the use of the school. 

About the year 1706, an encroachment was made on 
the patent of the town of Flatbush, by inhabitants of 
Newtown, and on the 3d day of April, in the same year, 
the town unanimously agreed that every patentee should 
contribute six shilling to carry on and pay the expenses of 
a law suit, in defending the Patent from this encroach- 
ment. From this time forth at the annual town meetings, 
two persons were chosen to guard the interests of the town 
in regard to their meets and bounds, as set forth in their 

5 



50 

Patent. These were called ''Dorps mannen," or Towns- 
men, and subsequently Defenders of the Patent. This 
controversy appears not to have been satisfactorily adjust- 
ed until the year 1721. 

Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, remained unoccupied 
until the close of the revolutionary war. They were 
then sold by the proprietors and owners, at the rate of 
sixteen dollars per acre. The proceeds of the sale of 
Corlaer's Flats, were chiefly devoted to the erection of 
"Erasmus Hall Academy," while those arising from the 
sale of Twiller's Flats, were divided among those who 
would not consent to i-elinquish their right for the benefit 
of the academy, in reference to which, chiefly the sales 
had been effected. The academy was greatly benefitted 
by this sale, but we shall have occasion to speak more at 
large upon this, when we come to trace the Literary 
HivStory of the town. 

On the 12th of November, 1695, the court made an 
order requiring each of the towns to cause to be im- 
mediately erected, a good pair of siocks, and a good pound, 
by which it seems, they were resolved to keep both man 
and beast in proper subjection. Whether this order at 
the time was strictly complied with on the part of the 
town of Flatbush, we know not. But twenty-nine years 
after this, on the records of the Board of Supervisors of 
the county, under date of the 17th of November, 1724, 
there is the following charge. 

" To a Stocks for Flatbush, - - £1.9.6." 
These stocks remained for a number of years. They 
were erected in front of the court-house, and many 
will remember to have seen them. There was also about 
these same premises, a whipping-post, which was used 
partly for offenders in the town, and partly for the pun- 



* (. 



51 

ishment of persons convicted of small crimes ; for there 
was a public whipper, whose fee was fixed for a year, at 
three pounds. The fee for whipping one person, was 
three shillings. These charges frequently appear on the 
Minutes of the Board of Supervisors. This mode of pun- 
ishment was not in that day, considered improper or cruel, 
and was resorted to, probably, partly in consequence of 
the number of slaves which were then held by the seyeral 
inhabitants, who were kept in subjection and punished for 
minor offences, in this summary manner. We have rea- 
son to be thankful that under the benign influence of mild 
and wholesome laws, this remnant of the reign of cruelty 
and terror has passed away. 

As early as the commencement of the eighteenth century, 
if not sooner, a public brewery was established in the 
town. The principle of total abstinence from all that can 
intoxicate was not then known or practiced, and beer or 
malt liquor was the common beverage of the inhabitants, 
and continued to be so until the orchards were planted and 
came into full bearing, when cider became a substitute. 
The brew-house was situated in the southern part of the 
town, a little north of the dwelling-house of the late Jacob 
Duryee and on the same side of the road. It is presumed 
by some that there was also another public brewery in the 
north of the town. It is certain, however, that there were 
two private ones ; one on the lot of the late Peter Stryker 
back of the store now occupied by Messrs. Birdsall & 
Aldworth, and another on the property of Rem Vander- 
bilt, the proprietor of the farm now in the tenure of Mat- 
thew Clarkson, Esq. The public brewery was divided 
into fourteen shares, which were subdivided into halves and 
perchance quarters. These rights were apportioned to the 
several farms and considered appurtenant to them, and en- 



ii^ 



52 

titled the proprietors to the privilege of brewing in the estab- 
Hshment. These rights were disposed of by deed or testa- 
mentary devise. A will is in existence dated as late as 
1773, devising the right of the testator in the brewery to 
his son ; and several wills and deeds of early date are to 
be found, containing provisions relative to the same subject. 
So important was the right in this establishment at that 
time deemed by the proprietors. The public brew-house 
continued to stand until after the close of the American 
Revolution. It was then sold, together with all its fix- 
tures, and the proceeds divided among the shareholders. 
We may here briefly advert to the style of building, and 
domestic habits of the early inhabitants of Flatbush. The 
designs of their houses were probably brought from Fa- 
derland. They were chiefly built of wood, but some few 
of brick, which was manufactured in the place. They 
were of one story, either with an overshot-roof, both in 
front and rear forming a piazza — or an overshot in front, 
and the roof in the rear, extending some distance back until 
it came within a few feet of the ground. A specimen of 
this last style of architecture may be seen in the house 
belonging to the heirs of the late Cornelius Antonides, 
which is probably the oldest house now standing in the 
village. The rooms inside were not ceiled, but above 
were the broad heavy oak beams on which the floor of the 
upper-part of the house was laid. The fire-places usual- 
ly were very large, generally extending without jambs in 
width sufficient to accommodate the whole family with a 
seat near the fire. The chimneys were very large and 
spacious, sufficiently so to admit their meat to be hung in 
them, for the purpose of being smoked, which was the 
usual practice. When jambs were added to any fire- 
place, they were generally set round with earthen glazed 



«> 



53 

tiles, which were imported from Holland ornamented with 
various scenes, some of which were of a Scriptural cha- 
racter. Many of these were quite beautiful and gave a 
very ornamental appearance to the fireside, as well as 
formed the means of much amusement and instruction to 
the younger part of the family. The last of these fire- 
places thus ornamented was removed when the house of 
the late LefFerts Martense was pulled down, to give place 
to the spacious mansion now occupied by Judge Garrit 
Martense. To many of the houses the barns also were 
quite closely connected. This was generally the case 
with the Renters. This style of building corresponded 
with the habits of the earlier inhabitants. These were 
very simple, unaffected and economical. No people 
could have been more independent than they. They 
brought up their children in habits of industry. As has 
been stated every son was taught some mechanical art, 
and every daughter was required to become well ac- 
quainted with all household duties. The farmers burnt 
their own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their 
own shoes and boots, and attended to much of their own 
carpentering, and wheel-wrighting. While the males 
were engaged in the cultivation of the farms, the females 
were actively employed in some industrious avocations in 
the house. The spinning-wheel was set in motion irh 
every family as soon as flax and wool could be prepared 
in the fall, and all materials for the clothing of the fam- 
ily, white as well as colored, were manufactured at home, 
nor was she considered a suitable candidate for matrimo- 
ny who could not show her stores of domestic linens and 
other evidences of industry and economy. So economical 
were the females of their time, that they almost invariably 
took their spinning-wheels with them when they went to 



54 

spend a sociable afternoon with a neighbor. Nor did they 
even refuse to help the males in the field during the har- 
vest, the gathering of corn, and other busy seasons. It 
was a very common thing for them to be seen working 
side by side with their husbands, fathers and brothers, at 
such times. The modern invention of a dirt-cover, as it 
would in those days have been esteemed, vv^hich we now 
call a carpet, was not then known. The floors were regu- 
larly scoured and scrubbed, and kept as white and clean 
almost as the table. They were sanded with beach sand, 
of which every family always had a sufficient store, it be- 
ing the rule to go twice a year to the beach for that then, 
indispensable article. It was put on the floor with great 
care on certain days, being always laid in small lumps or 
heaps, and the members of the family were required very 
cautiously to tread between these heaps so as not to disturb 
the economy of the good housewife. When on the next 
day the sand had become dry, it was swept in waves or some 
other figures, by the broom being drawn lightly over it, 
and was in truth a good specimen of the general neatness 
and cleanliness which pervaded the whole premises. 
When the first imported carpets were introduced we know 
not, but the first rag carpet was made about fifty years 
ago. It was wove by Adrian Hegeman for the widow of 
George Martense, the mother of the present Mrs. Catin. 
Frugality, economy and industry, characterised all. They 
lived chiefly within themselves, and knew but little of the 
dangers and diseases incident to luxury and indolence. 
And well would it be for the present age, if instead of 
ridiculing and despising them they practiced more of their 
simple, unaffected, economical habits. For one I love to 
dwell upon them, and every thing connected with them is 
interesting. 



55 

In the early part of this century a murder was com* 
mitted in the town, and in fact the only one that we have 
any account of. It occurred on the farm now in the ten- 
ure of Mrs. Catin. The dwelling-house of the ancestor 
of the family of Martense, who possessed a very extensive 
tract of land, was situated on the rear of the farm. From 
his owning and cultivating so large a quantity of land, he 
was called by way of distinction Martin De Boer, 
(Martin the Farmer.) He built a new house on the main 
road in front of his farm near the site of the present 
dwelling of Mrs. Catin. When he moved to this house 
he left in the cellar of his former old dwelling an Indian. 
This person it appears had been guilty of killing some 
person or persons on Staten Island. In consequence of 
this, certain Indians from Staten Island came toFlatbush, 
"found him living alone in the cellar of the house which 
stood separate from the other dwellings, and murdered him 
— thus glutting their revenge. During the first half of the 
last century, the inhabitants of Flatbush were chiefly en- 
gaged in certain difficulties of an ecclesiastical character, 
and during the latter half were occupied with the troubles 
growing out of the Revolutionary struggle. These will 
be made the subject of more extended notice hereafter, 
and we pass them for the present. 

The introduction of foreign manures, forms an era in the 
agricultural history of the town. For more than a cen- 
tury the farmers depended entirely upon their barn yards 
to furnish the means of enriching their lands, together with 
such quantities of shell lime as they could manufacture for 
themselves. There was a lime kiln, situated not far from 
the place now occupied by the public pound, at which, 
large quantities of shells were burnt. The lime thus pro- 
cured, was spread upon the ground, and tended, no doubt, 



56 

greatly to increase its productiveness. But a short time 
previous to the American Revolution, the attention of the 
farmers was called to foreign manures, particularly to 
ashes. The first that was introduced into the village was by 
Jacobus Van Deventer. He brought it up from Brooklyn, 
in bags. It was tried and found to answer a good purpose, 
and then three other persons, viz. John LefFerts, Cornelius 
Vanderveer, and Judge Lott, united with him in carting 
it from the ferry. It could then be purchased as a very 
moderate rate. From that time the attention of the farm- 
ers was more directly turned to the enriching of their 
lands, and vast quantities of manures of various kinds have 
since been employed, in consequence of which, the land 
has been rendered rich and fertile. 

In the year 1758 a new court-house was erected in the 
town. The first edifice was quite small, and was a dis- 
tinct building from the jail. One of these buildings took 
fire in the winter of 1757-8 and burnt to the ground, the 
other was saved chiefly by throwing snow-balls upon it. 
It was however subsequently taken down, and m the new 
building which was put up, accommodations were made 
for both the court and jail. It was two stories high. The 
lower floor was divided by an entry, on the south side of 
which was a room for the use of the jailor, and on the north 
a room for the confinement of prisoners. The second story 
was fitted up in a large room for the accommodation of 
the courts of the county. During the Revolutionary war 
the British officers then in the place took out all the seats 
in this room and converted it into a ball-room. This 
building which cost £448, remained with some repairs, un- 
til the year 1792. It being then found inconvenient, too 
small, and much out of repair, a new one was erected 
which was placed considerably farther back on the lot, 



57 

and was of much larger dimensions. It was of two sto- 
ries, and planned in general after the model of the 
old one. This plan was drawn by Mr. James 
Robinson, and is called in the minutes of the Board 
of Supervisors "the wooden plan," from the fact pro- 
bably that the erection was to be a frame building. 
John Vanderbilt, Johannes E. Lott and Charles Doughty, 
Esqs., were first appointed the Commissioners to superin- 
tend the building of this court-house and jail. Mr. Van- 
derbilt having resigned the appointment, Rutgert Van 
Brunt, was afterwards commissioned in his place. The 
old building was then sold at public auction. It was pur- 
chased by Michael Van Cleef, for the sum of seventy-one 
pounds. The timber was afterwards bought by the Rev. 
Martinus Schoonmaker, and used in building the house 
lately occupied by his son, Stephen Schoonmaker. The 
court-house and jail was completed in the year 1793. It 
was a very respectable looking frame building, surmount- 
ed by a small cupola. The jail, however, was not very 
secure ; several escapes were made from it, although it 
was often repaired and strengthened. On the 30th of 
November, 1832, it took fire from some unknown cause, 
and was burnt to the ground, and from that time Flatbush 
ceased to be the county town, and the courts and all ju- 
dicial business, were removed to Brooklyn. 

The ancient government of the town of Flatbush was si- 
milar to that of all the towns under the administration of 
the Dutch authority. In the infancy of the settlements, 
the Governor appointed magistrates in the several villages, 
with more or less power, as he judged proper. Usually 
these public officers were a scout or constable, a clerk and 
an assessor, all of which, were appointed by the Govern- 
or. The duties of these officers consisted in preserving 



58 

the peace, and regulating the police of the town. They 
appear also to have had power to give judgment in some 
cases of judicial proceedings. In consequence of a defi- 
ciency in the records of the town, we are not able to give 
the names of those who held these offices during the dy- 
nasty of New-Netherlands. After the surrender of the 
the colony to the English, in 1664, and the adoption of the 
Dukes Laws, some alterations were made in the number 
and character of the town officers. It was then ordered, 
that in addition to a clerk, each town should elect one con- 
stable and eight overseers. The duties of the constable 
were laid down with great particularity. They were to 
hold town courts, with the overseers, and with them to 
make assessments, &c. to whip or punish offenders, raise 
the hue and cry after murderers, manslayers, thieves, rob-' 
bers, burglars : and also apprehend without warrant, such 
as were overtaken with drink, swearing, sabbath-breaking, 
vagrant persons, or night walkers, " provided they be ta- 
ken in the manner, either by the sighte of the constable, 
or by present informacon from others ; as alsoe to make 
searche for all such persons, either on ye sabbath daye, 
or other, when there shall bee occation, in all houses li- 
censed to sell beere or wine, or any other suspected or dis- 
ordered places, and these to apprehend and keepe in safe 
custody, till opportunity serves, to bring them before the 
next justice of ye peace, for further examina'con." The 
constable was chosen out of the number of overseers, 
whose term of service had expired. 

The list of the constables will be given subsequently. 

The overseers were appointed in the following manner, 
according to the provisions of the Dukes Laws. '' Over- 
seers shall be eight in number, men of good fame and life> 
chosen by the plurality of voiyes of the freeholders in each 



59 

towne, whereof foure shall remaine in their ofhce two 
yeares successively, and foure shall be changed for new 
ones, every yeare ; which election shall preceed the elec- 
tion of constables, in point of time, in regard the consta- 
ble for the yeare ensuing, is to bee chosen out of that num- 
ber which are dismist from their office of overseers." The 
following is a summary of the duties of the overseers, as 
stated by Judge Furman, in his notes on Brooklyn. They 
were authorized together with the constable, to hold town 
courts, for the trial of causes under £5. On the death of 
any person, they were to repair with the constable to the 
house of the deceased, and inquire after the manner of his 
death, and of his will and testament ; and if no will was 
found, the constable, in the presence of the overseers, was, 
within forty-eight hours, to search after the estate of the 
deceased, and to deliver an account of the same, in writing, 
under oath, to the next justice of the peace. They togeth- 
er with the constable, made all assessments. If any over- 
seer died during his term, the rest of the overseers by a 
major vote, made choice of another in his place : and if the 
person so chosen, refuse to serve, he forfeited the sum of 
£10. towards defraying the town charges. They were to 
settle the bounds of the town, within twelve months after 
the bounds were granted. They had the power of regu- 
lating fences. They were authorized, together with the 
constable, to make choice of two out of the eight overseers, 
of church affairs. They and the constable were frequent- 
ly to admonish the inhabitants, '• to instruct their children 
and servants, in matters of religion, and the lawes of the 
country." They, with the constable, appointed an officer 
" to record every man's particular marke, and see each 
man's horse and colt branded." The constable and two 
of the overseers, were to pay the value of an Indian coat 



60 

for each wolf killed ; and they were to cause the wolf's 
head to be " nay led over the door of the constable, their to 
remaine, as also to cut of both the eares, in token that the 
head is bought and paid for." 

The following is the most complete list of the overseers 
of Flatbush that could be obtained. 

1675. Simon Hansen, and John Roloifson. 

1676. Arian Ryers, and Garrit Sneger. 

1679. Joseph Hegeman, and Derick Jansen Van Vleet. 

1680. Barent Claas, Cornelius Berrian, and Joseph 

Hegeman. 

1681. Cornelius Berrian, Rinier Aeartsen, Barthold 

Claases and Jan Remsen. 

1682. Rynier Aeartsen, Jan Jansen, Jan Remsen and 

Arian Ryersen. 

1683. Aris Janse, Jan Aeartsen, Jan Jansen, and 

John Auky. 
In the year 1683, the " overseers," were changed to 
" commissioners," The act regulating their appointment, 
and prescribing particularly their duties, was passed by 
the first General Assembly of this Colony, November 1st, 
1683. It is not necessary to recite the provisions of this 
act. The only list that we have been able to obtain of the 
commissioners appointed under this act, in the town of Flat- 
bush, is the following : 

1684. Adrian Ryersen, Cornelius Baronson and John 

Auky. 

1685. Stoffle Probasco, and Joseph Hegeman. 

1686. Arian Ryers and Pieter Stryker. 

1687. Aris Janse, and Stoffle Probasco. 

1688. Pieter Stryker, and Cornelius Bardulph. 

The constables, overseers and commissioners, were 
sworn before the court of Sessions, before they entered 



61 

upon the discharge of the duties of their respective 
offices. 

The office of " Commissioner" continued until the first 
Tuesday of April, 1703, when "Supervisors" were elected 
for the several towns of Kings County. The first meeting 
of this board, was held on the first Tuesday in October, of 
the same year. It is probable, that at first they kept no 
minutes of their proceedings, as the first record is that of 
a meeting which took place at the court-house in Flat- 
bush, on the first Tuesday in October, in the year 1714. 
The Supervisor who then attended from Flatbush, was 
Ryck Hendrickson. The board at this, their first record- 
ed meeting, made choice of Samuel Garretson, of Graves- 
end, as their Clerk, and John Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, as 
Treasurer of the county. At that time, the ordinary and 
contingent expenses of the county, (including the per 
diem compensation of the two members of the Colonial 
Assembly from the county, for their attendance during 
the year 1703.) amounted to only £71. 0. 6. or8l77.56. 
This sum was apportioned among the several towns in the 
county in the following manner. 

Brooklyn, £19. 9. 3. 



Flatbush, 


15. 1. 6. 




New-Utrecht 


9.18. 9. 




Flatlands, 


8.14. 9. 




Bushwick, 


9. 3. 0. 




Gravesend, 


8.13. 3. 






£71. 0. 6.- 


—$177.56 



The following is a list of the Supervisors of the town 
of Flatbush, from the year 1703, to the present time. 

6 



62 



Names. 






Dates. 




Aris Vanderbilt, 


From 


Aprilj 


1703 to 


April 1705 


Daniel Polhemus, 


u 


(( 


1705 


" 1706 


Jacob Plendrick Ryck, 


a 


a 


1706 


" 1707 


Aris Jansen Vanderbilt, 


u 


u 


1707 


" 1708 


Jan Vanderveer, 


(< 


(( 


1708 


" 1710 


Benjamin Hegeman, 


i<. 


a 


1710 


" 1711 


Ryck Hendricks, 


a 


a 


1711 


" 1712 


Jan Cornelise, 


a 


a 


1712 


'' 1713 


Jacob Hendrickson, 


a 


u 


1713 


" 1714 


Ryck Hendrickson, 


a 


a 


1714 


'' 1715 


John Vanderveer, 


<.<. 


u 


1715 


" 1716 


Daniel Remse, 


li 


u 


1716 


" 1717 


Jacob Suydam 


a 


ii 


1771 


" 1718 


Dominicus Vanderveer, 


u 


ii 


1718 


" 1719 


Lieut. Philip Nagle, 


a 


ii 


1719 


" 1720 


Cornelius Cornell, 


a 


ii 


1720 


" 1721 


Abrabam Lott, 


a 


ii 


1721 


" 1722 


Rvck Hendrickson, 


a 


ii 


1722 


" 1723 


John Vanderveer, 


a 


ii 


1723 


' 1724 


Cornelius Cornell, 


a 


ii 


1724 


" 1726 


Peter Lefferts, 


a 


ii 


1726 


" 1727 


Johannes Ditmarse, 


u 


ii 


1727 


'^ 1728 


Ryck Suydam, 


a 


ii 


1728 


" 1741 


John Van Kerk, 


u 


ii 


1741 


" 1743 


Peter Stryker, 


a 


4i 


1743 


" 1744 


John Van Kerk, 


u 


ii 


1744 


" 1749 


Dominicus Vanderveer, 


u 


il 


1749 


" 1751 


Johannes Lott, Jun. 


i(. 


n 


1751 


" 1759 


Jeremias Vanderbilt, 


a 


ii 


1759 


" 1763 


Johannes Lott, Jun. 


a 


a 


1763 


" 1782 


Philip Nagel, 


ii 


ii 


1782 


" 1787 



63 



Johannes J. Lott, 
John C. Vanderveer, 
John Wyckoff, 
Isaac Cortelyou, 
Jacob Rapelje, 
Isaac Cortelyou, 



From April, 1787 to April 1804. 
" " 1804 " 1832. 
" " 1832 to Feby. 1837. 
From Febry. 1837 " 1839. 
" " 1839 toApl. 1841. 
" April 1841 " 1842. 



The following is a list of the Town Clerks of the town 
of Flatbush, from the year 1659, to the year 1842. 

Na7nes. 

Adrian Hegeman, 
Jacop Joosten, 
Francays De Bruynne, 
Michael Hainelle, 
Jan Gerrit Van Marckj( 
Derick Storm, 
Johannes Van Eklen, 
Johannes Schenck, 
Abraham Lott, 
Jan Gancell, 
Adrian Hegeman, 
Jores Remsen, 
Jeremias Van Der Bilt, 
Petrus Van Steenbergh 
John Lefferts, 
Philip Nagle, 
John Van Der Bilt, 
John C. Vanderveer, 
Garret Stryker, 
Abraham Vanderveer 
Garret Stryker, 
Adrian Hegeman, 







Bates. 




Dm 


1659 


to 


1771. 


a 


1671 


ii 


1673. 


i( 


1673 


a 


1674. 


a 


1674 


i( 


1675. 


a 


1675 


(( 


1680. 


i( 


1680 


(( 


1683. 


ii 


1683 


(( 


1700. 


a 


1700 


(( 


1711. 


(I 


1711 


(C 


1716. 


ii 


1716 


(I 


1719. 


(( 


1716 


(I 


1741. 


ii 


1741 


ii 


1754. 


n 


1754 


i{ 


1762. 


li 


1762 


it 


1773. 


11 


1773 


a 


1776. 


n 


1776 


i( 


1792. 


« 


1792 


a 


1794. 


(( 


1794 


(( 


1804. 


u 


1804 


(I 


1810. 


u 


1810 


iC 


1816. 


n 


1816 


u 


1819. 


ii 


1819 


t( 


1823. 





64 








William Ellsworth, 


From 


1823 


to 


1827 


William Hegeman, 


(( 


1827 


a 


1828, 


John A. Lott, 


a 


1828 


a 


1842 



The following is the mosi complete list of the Consta- 
bles of the town of Flatbush, that could be obtained from 
the year 1669, to the year 1842. 



Names. 

Jacob Stryker, From 

Bartholf Clairesen, " 

Cornelius Barentse, " 

Minne Johannes, " 

Cornelius Jansen, " 

Joseph Hegeman, " 
Cornelius Jansen Berrian, " 

Rien Aeartsen, " 

Cornelius Barentse, " 

Rinier Aeartsen, " 

Jan Ditmarsen " 

Simon Hanssen " 

Pieter Stryker, " 

Daniel Polhemus " 

Jan Bennem, " 

Jacob Van Der Boergh " 

Jan Bennem, " 

Jacob Van Der Boergh " 

Jan Bennem, " 

Hendericus Kip, " 

John Van Der Veer, ) ^^ 

John Bennet, Dep. ^ 

Cornelius Cornell, " 



Dates. 



1669 


to 


1670. 


1670 


(( 


1675. 


1675 


u 


1676. 


1676 


a 


1679. 


1679 


u 


1681. 


1681 


a ■ 


1682. 


1682 


ii 


1683. 


1683 


a 


1685. 


1685 


a 


1686. 


1686 


a 


1687. 


1687 


(I 


1688, 


1688 


cc 


1689, 


1689 


i( 


1690. 


1690 






1705 


a 


1707. 


1707 


a 


1708, 


1708 


a 


1709, 


1709 


u 


1710, 


1710 


a 


1713 


1713 


i( 


, 1716 


1716 


li 


1717, 


1717 


a 


1718, 



65 



Johannes Symonsen, 
Isaac Snedecker, 
Jan Bennet 
Jan Walderom, 
Abraham Lott, 
Joris Bloom, 
Peter Luyster, 
Johannes Lott, 
Isaac LefFerts, 
Lawrence Ditmarse, 
Jacob Remsen, 
Johannes Ditmarse, 
Robert Betts, 
Phillppus Nagel, 
Nicholas Wyckoff, 
Gilliam Cornell, 
Peter Stryker, 
Nicholas Stillwell, 
Jacob Boerum, 
Joseph Benham, 
Cornelius Suydam, 
Nicholas Andriesen, 
Garret Van Duyn, 
Jeremias Van Der Bilt, 
Jan Laen, 
Thomas Doxse, 
Cornelius Van Cleeff, 
Leffert LefFerts, 
Aris MorfFee, 
Adriaen Hegeman, 
Vincentius Antonides^ 
William Merrill, 
William Allgeo, 



From 



1718 


to 


1719 


1719 


(( 


1720, 


1720 


a 


1721 


1721 


a 


1722 


1722 


a 


1723 


1723 


a 


1724 


1724 


iC 


1725, 


1725 


a 


1726 


1726 


u 


1727. 


1727 


u 


1728 


1728 


a 


1729 


1729 


a 


1730 


1730 


. a 


1731 


1731 


• '^ 


1732 


1732 


a 


1733 


1733 


a 


1734 


1734 


a 


1735 


1735 


a 


1736 


1736 


a 


1737 


1737 


a 


1738 


1738 


a 


1739 


1739 


a 


1740 


1740 


a 


1742 


1742 


a 


1743 


1743 


a 


1745, 


1745 


ii 


1746, 


1746 


u 


1748, 


1748 


u 


1749, 


1749 


(( 


1751, 


1751 


a 


1769 


1769 


a 


1791, 


1791 


ii 


1792 


179a 


(.1 


1794. 



6* 



From 


1794 


to 


1795. 




1795 




1796. 




1796 




1797. 




1797 




1810. 




1810 




1815. 




1815 




1840. 




1840 




1842. 



66 

William Merrill, 
William AUgeo, 
William Merrill, 
Michael Van Cleeff^ 
Rem Hegeman, 
William Allgeo, 
Suydam Hegeman, 

From among the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush, 
the comity have selected at different times many individii- 
als to fill their comity offices, as well as to represent 
them in the legislative assemblies of the country. From 
the year 1714, at which date the first minutes of the 
Board of Supervisors of the county commence, till the 
year 1840, the treasurers of the county were, with one 
exception, residents in the town of Flatbush. The fol- 
lowing is a list of the individuals who have served in this 
responsible office : — 

John Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, from October, 1714, to 

to October, 1737. 
Peter Lefferts, of Flatbush, from October, 1737, to 

October, 1772. 
Jeremias Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, from October, 1772, 

to May, 1786. 
Philip Nagel, of Flatbush, from May, 1786, to June, 

1792. 
Johannes J. Lott, of Flatbush, from June, 1792, to De- 
cember, 1806. 
Hendrick J. Lott, of Flatlands, from December, 1806, 

to October, 1811. 
John Lefferts, of Flatbush, from October, 1811, to 

September, 1813. 
John C. Vanderveer, of Flatbush, from September, 
1813, to August, 1837. 



67 

John A. Lott, of Flatbush, from August, 1837, to 

August, 1840. 
John Skillman, of Brooklyn, from August, 1840, to 

August, 1842. 

The following is a specimen of the usual Minute of 
the Board of Supervisors, in the former part of the last 
century, relative to auditing the acceunts of their Trea- 
surer. It is full, unique and characteristic of the age. 

" The Supervisors have examined their Treasurer and 
called in their warrants, and have taken the reckonings 
of their Treasurer, John Vanderbilt, and found that he 
had done as an honest man, and he is acquitted of all 
reckonings concerning the Supervisors, and is in Cassa or 
money, the sum of £00. 06. 4." 

The following is a list of the Clerks of the Board of 
Supervisors, from 1714 to 1842. 

1714 to 1715, Samuel Garritson, Gravesend. 

1715 to 1724, J. M. Sperling, Flatbush. 

1724 to 1725, Adrian Hegeman, " 

1725 to 1727, J. M. Sperling, " 
1727 to 1752, Adrian Hegeman, " 
1752 to 1775, Simon Boerum, Brooklyn. 
1775 to 1782, Johannes Lott, Flatbush. 
1782 to 1784, Johannes J. Lott, '' 

1784 to 1785, Nicholas Couwenhoven, New-Utrecht. 

1785 to 1801, Jacob Sharpe, Jr., Brooklyn. 
1801 to 1842, Jeremiah Lott, Flatbush. 

Among the Judges of this county anterior to the Ameri- 
can Revolution, we find the following from Flatbush. 

Cornelius Sebring, from 1715 to 1718. 



68 

Peter Stryker, from 1720 to 1722. 

Daniel Polhemus, '' 1722 to 1724. 

Ryck Suydam, " 1732 to 1739. 

Johannes Lott, " 1742 to 1745. 

Abraham Lott, " 1745 to 1749. 

John Lefferts, " 1761 to 1777. 

Philip Nagel, " 1770 to 1777. 

Englebert Lott and > _ ^^^ 

Jeremiah Vanderbilt, \ "^'^^ ^"^ ^^^^■ 

After the Revolution, the second first Judge of the 
county, was Johannes E. Lott, of this town. He remain- 
ed upon the bench about six years. Beside these several 
associate judges of the court, have from time to time been 
taken from Flatbush, which we need not name. 

But among those who have represented this county in 
the Legislative Assemblies of the country, we find many 
who were inhabitants of Flatbush. In the Colonial as- 
semblies, who met at different periods, from 1683 to 1775, 
we notice the following names. 

Johannes Van Ecklen, fr( 

Henry Filkin, " 

Cornelius Sebring, " 

Gerardus Beekman, '• 

Cornelius Sebring, " 

Johannes Lott^ " 

Abraham Lott, " 
Dominicus Venderveer, " 

Among the Deputies from the county of King, who met 
in the city of New-York, in convention, April 10th, 1775, 
for the purpose of choosing delegates to the Ba'st Continen- 
tal congress, was John Vanderbilt, who from his being 
subsequently a member of the Senate of the State, was 



1693 


to 


1698. 


1694 


to 


1695. 


1695 


to 


1698. 


1698 


to 


1699. 


1699 


to 


1726. 


1727 


to 


1761. 


1737 


to 


1750. 


1750 


to 


1759. 



69 

called Senator John, to distinguish him from Judge Johra 
Vanderbilt. Among the delegates chosen by this conven- 
tion, to represent this county in that congress, were na 
less than three from this town, viz : Johannes Lott, John 
LefTerts, and John Vanderbilt. These delegates conven- 
ed at New- York, on the 22d, of May, 1775, and contin- 
ued to meet at different places, from time to time, till the 
adoption of the Constitution of the State, in April, 1777. 
John LefTerts of this town, was also a member of the Pro- 
vential Congress, from this county, which met on the 30th, 
day of June, 1776. His son Peter Lefferts, whose wi- 
dow still survives, was one of the two delegates from this 
county, to the convention which met at Poughkeepsie, on 
the 27th, day of June, 1778, to adopt the constitution of 
the United States. He was subsequently also a member 
of the Senate of this State, in which he appeared in a suit 
made entirely of homespun cloth, but of ^o fine a texture 
and finish, that it attracted special notice. His son, John 
Lefferts, whose widow is still spared to us, was a member 
of Congress, from this district, and also a delegate to the 
convention of 1821, which met for amending the constitu- 
tion of the State. 

Several persons have been selected from this town to 
represent the county of Kings, in the Assembly of the 
State, since the Revolution. 

In 1784 Johannes E. Lott, 

" 1785-6 John Vanderbilt, 

" 1787-8 Cornelius WyckofF, 

" 1789-91 Aquila Giles, 

" 1793 Aquila Giles, 

" 1802 JohnC. Vanderveer, 

" 1811 to 1813 John C. Vanderveer, 

'' 1814 Jeremiah Lott, 



70 

In 1815 Teunis Schenck, 

" 1816 & 1817 Richard Fish, 

" 1819 & 1820 Teunis Schenck, 

" 1821 & 1822 Jeremiah Lott, 

" 1829 John Wyckoff, 

" 1839 Jeremiah Lott, 

" 1842 John A. Lott. 

Statement of the population of the Town of Flatbush. 
including New-Lots, from the year 1810, to the year 
1840, inclusive. 



Years- 


Population 


1810, 


1,159. 


1820, 


1,062. 


1825, 


1,027. 


1830, 


1,049. 


1835, 


1,143. 


1840, 


1,537. 



Statement of the aggregate valuations of real and per- 
sonal estates, in the Town of Flatbush, including New- 
Lots, as revised and corrected by the Board of Supervi- 
t.«orsof the county of Kings, from the year 1817, to 1841, 
inclusive. 



Year. 


Real Estate. 


Personal Estate. 


AggH Valuation. 


1817, ■ 


8368.057. 


834.399. 


8403.056. 


1818, 


367.107. 


32.633. 


399.739. 


1819, 


384.657. 


162.904. 


547.561. 


1820, 


363.358. 


14L050. 


504.408. 


1821, 


357.238. 


115.990. 


473.228. 


1822, 


355.713. 


117.795. 


473.508. 


1823, 


320.158. 


102.365. 


422.523. 



71 



1824, 


301.300. 


88.930. 


390,230. 


1825, 


325.402. 


93.140. 


418 542. 


1826, 


317.714. 


89.330. 


407.044. 


1827, 


331.892, 


90.480. 


422.372. 


1828, 


319.840. 


84.638. 


404.478. 


1829, 


325.665. 


83.580. 


409.245. 


1830, 


321.310. 


73.900. 


395.210. 


1831, 


314.301. 


62.050. 


376.351. 


1832, 


310.396, 


68.300. 


384.696. 


1833, 


319.640. 


64.475. 


384.115, 


1834, 


387.601. 


62.450. 


450.051. 


1835, 


822.120. 


144.850. 


966.970, 


1836, 


833.970. 


167.150. 


1.001.120. 


1837, 


830,035. 


167.250. 


1.003.285. 


1838, 


860.495. 


168.000. 


1.028.495, 


1839, 


877.630. 


181.850. 


1.059.480, 


1840, 


880.055. 


220.600. 


1.100.555, 


1841, 


899.900. 


218.000. 


1.118.400, 



Thus have we sketched some of the leading facts, rela- 
ting to the civil history of the town of Flatbush. We 
cannot but mark the good hand of providence in all. He 
has favored the spot with health ; rendered its soil fertile ; 
and prospered its inhabitants. The latter have steadily 
pursued the even tenor of their way, and while they have 
enjoyed liberally the gifts of a benificent providence, 
have advanced in wealth and solid comforts. While in 
other sections of our country, the lands possessed by the 
original proprietors, have passed from their descendants ; 
here, but few farms comparatively, have changed hands ; 
the spirit of roving not having been cherished. Most of 
the farms are still in the possession of the descendants of 



72 

the first patentees and proprietors. Numerous families 
in the town too, can trace back their genealogy to the 
early settlement of the place. May they continue to em- 
ulate the virtues of their fathers, and go on in the enjoy- 
ment of the good land which God has given them, thank- 
ing Him, that " the lines have fallen to them in pleasant 
places, and that they enjoy so goodly a heritage." 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



In commencing the Ecclesiastical History of Flatbush, 
it is proper to premise, that as all the early settlers of this 
and the neighboring towns, came from Holland, they were 
united in one religious faith. They all professed the doc" 
trines, -and order, which were established by the national 
Synod, which met at Dordrecht, in the year 1618-19. 
This Synod was summoned by the authority of the Staats 
General of Holland, and was attended by the most emi- 
nent divines of the United Provinces, and deputies from 
the reformed churches of England, Scotland, Switzerland,' 
Bremen and other places. Seldom, if ever, has a more 
learned, pious and venerable assembly convened. The 
early inhabitants of the west end of Long Island, received 
as the symbols of their faith, the Belgic Confession, 
the Heidleburgh Catechism, and the Canons of this Sy- 
nod. But as there was no ecclesiastical organization in 
this country, at that time, they were placed under the 
the oversight and authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, 
to whom the interests of all the Dutch and German 
-churches in America were confided. A standing com- 
mittee was appointed by this Classis, called the commit- 
tee ad exteras and sometimes ad res maritlinas to whom 
the affairs of these churches were referred, during the in- 
tervals of session by the Classis. This committee mana- 
ged all the correspondence with these churches, provided 
them with ministers, and gave them such counsel as they 

7 



74 

needed. This arrangement continued until the year 1772, 
when the organization of the present Reforn^^d Dutch 
Church, in this country took place, and independent 
Classes and Synods were established, on the model ^T the 
church in Holland. On Long-Island, each town had its 
own consistory, or bench of church officers ; but all the 
churches in Kings county were combined, and constituted 
one charge, for the period of about one hundred and fifty 
years. Their ministers were colleagues ; preached in 
turn in all the churches, and drew their salaries in cer- 
tain fixed proportions from the several congregations. 
The place of their residence was Flatbush. 

*^ Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush. 

AWiough it is known that the inhabitants of Long- 
Island had among them the ordinances of the gospel at a 
very early date, yet the first account of building a church, 
is not till the year 1654. On the 15th of December, of 
that year. Governor Stuyvesant issued an order appoint- 
ing the Rev. Mr. Megapel ensis, who was one of the min- 
isters of New- Amsterdam ; John Snedicor and John 
Stryker, commissioners to build a church at Midwout. 
On the 13th of October, in the same year, it appears that 
an order was passed by the Governor, who seems to have 
exercised a controlling power in ecclesiastical as well as 
civil and military affairs, permitting the Rev. Johannes 
Theodorus Polhemus, a minister of the Reformed Church 
of Holland, to preach at Midwout and Amersfort, (or 
Flatlands.) The spot selected for the building of the 
church, was the site now occupied by the present build- 
ing. The order of the Governor, directed that it should 
be sixty, or sixty-five feet long, twenty-eight feet broad, 
and from twelve to fourteen feet under the beams : that 



75 

it should be built in the form of a cross, and that the rear 
should be reserved for the ministers dwelling. It is most 
probable that this building, which was the first church 
erected in the county, was of wood, and that it was com- 
menced, if not completed, in the succeeding year. For on 
the 9th of February, 1655, the Governor ordered the inha- 
bitants of Brooklyn and Amersfort, which were then con- 
nected together, with Flatbush, as one pastoral charge, 
and continued so for a number of years, to assist the peo- 
ple of Midwout in cutting timber to build their house of 
worship. The entries in the Deacons book of the church 
of Flatbush, of collections taken up on the Sabbath com- 
mence on the first Sabbath of January, 1655, and these 
entries are regularly continued, at intervals of seven days, 
from that time forward. From this, it is evident that di- 
vine service was statedly performed on every Sabbath 
after that period, in Flatbush. How long previously to 
this time this was the case, cannot be ascertained. Nor 
is there any record by which it can be known, when the 
first Consistory was ordained and the church organized. 
But it appears from subsequent minutes, that until the 
year 1681, the Consistory consisted of only two Elders 
and two Deacons. 

In September, 1660, those who had the charge of 
erecting the building, reported that it had cost 4,637 guil- 
ders, or about 81,800. Of this sum, a very considerable 
amount was collected by voluntary subscription, in New- 
Amsterdam, Fort Orange, (now Albany,) and in the dif- 
ferent settlements on Lons-Island. An account of these 
several subscriptions, is still preserved in the records of 
the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush. It is as 
follows : — 



Guilders. 


Stivers. 


90 




50 




1,876 


3 


35 


10 


112 


10 


120 




17 


10 


427 




, 588 





76 

" To the building received." 
From Fort Orange, 

" Esopus, 

" New- Amsterdam, 

" Gowanus, 

" Brooklyn, 

" Amersfort, 

" New-Utrecht, 

" Midwout, 

" E. (India probably,) Company, 
• " the first preaching, (collection 

probably,) 90 

" The Hon. Fiscal, or Attorney 

General, 30 

" Also, in addition, 113 

" Marriage Fees, 43 

" Hempstead, by bequest, 50 

To aid in liquidating the debt which still remained upon 
the building, the Governor himself, contributed 400 guil- 
ders, leaving still a balance of 800 against the church. 

From the Dutch Records in the office of the Secretary of 
State at Albany, we gather the following facts. " On 
the 6th, of August, 1655, the Governor ordered the She- 
riff, to convene the inhabitants of Brooklyn, Flatbush and 
Flatlands, for the purpose of inquiring whether they were 
satisfied with their minister, and if they were satisfi- 
ed, what sallary they would pay him. The Sheriff 
reported, that they approved of their minister, and would 
pay him a sum equal to $416.66 per year. This was 
approved as a good call, and accepted." The minister 
concerning whom this order was made, was the Rev. 
Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, who was the first Pastor 
of these churches. " February, 8th, 1656, the above towns 
applied to the Governor for an order to raise money by a 



77 

tax, to pay their minister, Granted." " December, 20th, 
1659, the Rev. J. Polhemus represented to the Governor 
that his church wanted painting, to preserve it, and re- 
quested assistance from the Governor. Reply, — this re- 
quest shall be transmitted to the directors by the first op- 
portunity." " September 18th, 1660, the minister peti- 
tioned for windows for his church, Ordered that one 
window be furnished him." 

It having been reported, that the church was indebted 
to the amount of 624 guilders, it was ordered to be satis- 
fied out of the treasury, as soon as funds should be recei- 
ved. On the 15th of March, 1656, an ordinance was pass- 
ed by the Governor, on petition, regulating the times and 
places of public worship on the sabbath. It was directed 
that the morning service for Brooklyn, Flatbush and Flat- 
lands, should be held at Midwout, or Flatbush, and the 
afternoon service alternately, at Brooklyn and Flatlands. 
The first church at Flatlands was ordered to be erected 
in the year 1662, and that at Brooklyn, in the year 1666. 
The Rev. Mr. Polhemus the first pastor, was at this time 
quite advanced in life, and unable to perform the services 
appertaining to so extended a charge. In consequence of 
this, on application to Governor Stuyvesant, permission 
was granted to the church, of Brooklyn, to call another 
minister. A request to this efiect was sent to Holland, 
and on the 16th, of February, 1660, a call upon the Rev. 
Henry Solyns, or Henricus Selwyn, was approved by the 
Classis of Amsterdam, and an honorable dismission given 
to Mr. Solyns, wishing him a safe and prosperous jour- 
ney by land, and by water, to his congregation, in the 
New-Netherlands. He was installed in the church at 
Brooklyn, on the 3d, of September, 1660, in the presence 
of the Fiscal and Burgomaster Krigier, by the order of 



78 

Governor Stuyvesant. His salary was six hundred guil- 
ders per annum, equal to a little rising two hundred dol- 
lars. 

Although nothing certainly is known of the services of 
Mr. Solyns, in Flatbush, it is probable, from the infirmities of 
Mr. Polhemus, and the friendship which existed between 
them, that occasionally, at least, he must have preached 
in Flatbush ; although he was regarded as more especial- 
ly the minister of the church of Brooklyn, and received as 
such, from the Rev. J. Polhemus, on the 12th, of Septem- 
ber, 1660, a list of his members, containing thirty-seven 
names. Mr. Solyns was a man of more than ordinary ta- 
lents and learning. This was soon discovered, and in the 
year 1662, an arrangement was made, by which he 
preached at the Governor's house, on his " Bowerie," or 
Farm, on Sunday afternoons. His ministry at this time, in 
this country however, was of short continuance ; for on the 
22d, of July, 1664, he took leave of his congregation, and 
sailed in the ship Beaver, for Holland. He subsequently 
returned to this country, and was pastor of the Dutch 
church, in New-York, from 1682, to 1700. He was a man 
of classical taste and learning, and highly esteemed in his 
day. He prefixed a Latin poem to Cotton Mather's 
" Magnalia Christi Americana," bearing date, October, 
16th, 1697. 

After the departure of Mr. Solyns, the churches were 
left to such services as the Rev. Mr. Polhemus, in his old 
age could confer upon them. He appears however to 
have been assisted at this period by the Rev. Johannes 
Megapolensis, one of the ministers of the city of New- Am- 
sterdam. This arrangement continued till the year 1676, 
on the 8th, of June, in which year, Mr. Polhemus died. 
Application was then made to the Classis of Amsterdam. 



79 

for another minister, by whom the Rev. Caspar us Van 
Zuren who had been settled at Gouderack, was sent out. 
He was installed on the 6th, of September, 1677. It is 
probable, that about this time, the church of New-Utrecht 
was organized, and received into the combination : 
for the first election of Elders and Deacons in this church, 
took place in the month of October, 1677. The record in 
the hand writing of the Rev. Mr. Van Zuren, under date 
1677, which gives the account of the change of Elders 
and Deacons in the several churches of Brooklyn, Amers- 
fort, Flatbush and New-Utrecht contains the following 
minute relative to the last named church " At New- 
Utrecht, while there has never heretofore been an election 
of Elders and Deacons, the assembled congregation have 
now chosen for Elders Jan Gysbertse and Mainderd 
Courtes ; for deacons, Auris Williamse Brower and Jan 
Hanse, and this has all taken place in the beginning of 
October, and they have been ordained about the same time 
and at the same place."' 

In the year 1681, the Consistory of the church of Flat- 
bush was enlarged, by the addition of one Elder and one 
Deacon, chosen from among the members at New-Lots. 
None of the consistories of the churches on the island as yet, 
consisted of more than two Elders and two Deacons, and 
this appears to have been the case for some years subse- 
quent to this period, with the exception of the church of 
Flatbush. The minute relative to the enlargement of the 
Consistory of the church of Flatbush is as follows : 

" N. B. In consequence of the increase of the commu- 
nicants and housekeepers, at Oostwoud, together with that 
of the children (where for the instruction and edification 
of the young and aged, a schoolmaster is required.) It 
is unanimously ordained and approved of by the Honora- 
ble Consistory of Midwoud, that at Oostwoud, under the 



80 

jurisdiction of Midwoud, there ought to be chosen an 
Elder and a Deacon, who shall be members of the Consis- 
tory of Midwoud, to have the oversight of the members of 
Oostwoud, in particular and over those of Midwoud in ge- 
neral, and in matters of importance, whenever the mem- 
bers of the Consistory are assembled, they must ah\ays be 
requested to meet with them to obtain their advice as well 
as that of others. And to that end, are chosen for Elder, 
William Jacobse Van Boerum ; for Deacon, Rem Rem- 
sen. Concluded in Consistory of Midwoud, on the 6th of 
January, 1681. The above elected persons having been 
several times proclaimed, were ordained at Midwoud, on 
the 30th, of January.'' 

Little is known with regard to the Rev. Mr. Van Zu- 
ren's ministry or character. He appears to have been a 
man of great industry and system. He has left the most 
copious minutes of the services which he performed. In 
addition to the lists of the members of the churches, and the 
records of baptisms and marriages, he has noted the times 
and places of administering the Lord's Supper, together 
with the texts of scripture from which he preached, and 
the election of new Elders and Deacons in the several 
churches in each year, together wuth the time of their 
induction into their respective offices. His record of bap- 
tisms commences on the 16th of September, 167T, and of 
marriages on the 29th of September, 1677. He contin- 
ued to serve these congregations till the year 1685, when 
he received a call from his former church in Holland, and 
returned to his native land. He was succeeded by the 
Rev. Rudolphus Varick in the same year. He continued 
till the year 1694, when the Rev. Wilhemus Lupandus 
was called, who officiated until the time of his death, which 
occurred in the year 1701 or 2. Of these two gentlemen 
nothing now is known. 



81 

In the year 1698, a subi^ription was taken up for the 
purpose of erecting a new church. This subscription, 
which was confined to the inhabitants of the old town and 
New-Lots, amounts to 15,728 guilders and 5 stivers, 
which reckoning a guilder at forty cents, is equal to 
$6,291.20. The precise time at which the church was 
built, is not known ; but it was no doubt during that year 
or the one that succeeded. The committee to whom the 
erection of the church was entrusted, were, Captain Daniel 
Polhemus, Captain Aries Vanderbilt, Adrian Ryers, Rem 
Remsen, and Rem Aertson. This building, which was 
located on the spot on which the first church stood, was 
a stone edifice, fronting the east, with a large arched 
double door in the centre, having a steep four-sided roof 
coming nearly together at the top, on which was erected 
a small steeple. The building was wider in front then in 
depth, being about sixty-five north and south, and about 
fifty feet east and west. The roof rested on the walls, 
and was partly supported by them, and partly by two large 
oak columns, standing in a line within the building, in a 
northerly and southerly direction, and at a suitable distance 
from each other. The two columns supported a plate in 
the centre of a lofty arched planked ceiling, the north 
and south ends of which, rested on the wall, in conse- 
quence of which, the north and south walls of the build- 
ing were considerable higher than those of the east and 
west. There were two large and broad braces extending 
from each column to the plate. The roof appeared to be 
badly constructed. Its pressure on the walls was so 
great, that in process of time, the upper part of the north- 
erly wall was pressed out more than a foot over the foun- 
dation, and the four braces attached to the columns within 
the building, were considerably bent from the weight and 



82 

pressure above. The pulpMiH^s placed in the centre of 
the west side of the building, fronting the door, having the 
Elders bench on the right, and the Deacons bench on the 
left. The male part of the congregation were seated in 
a continuous pew, all along the wall, which was divided 
into twenty apartments, with a sufficient number of doors 
for entrance : each person having one or more seats, in 
one or the other of these apartments. The residue of the 
interior of the building, was for the accommodation of the 
female part of the congregation, who were seated on 
chairs. These were arranged into seven different rows, 
or blocks, and every family had one or more chairs in 
some one of these blocks. This interior arrangement of 
the seats, was called by the significant Dutch term "De 
Gestoeltens." Each chair was marked on the back by 
a number, or by the name of the family or person to 
whom it belonged. The windows of this church were 
formed of small panes of glass ; and those on either side 
of the pulpit, were painted, or ornamented and set in lead. 

It is probable that about the year 1698, when the first 
church was pulled down, in which as we have seen, there 
was accommodation for the minister and his family, the first 
parsonage house was built. This is the south part of the 
present building now occupied by L. L. Van Kleeck, Esq. 
which has undergone so many important improvements 
under his hands. 

About the time of the building of this second church, 
a certain paper was drawn up and adopted, entitled " Ar- 
tides, Laws and Ordinances, by which the church of 
Flatbush shall be governed and occupied, by the inhabi- 
tants and builders." This document contains certain 
provisions : — 1st. Concerning the occupancy and posses- 
sion of the seats . 2d. Concerning the tenure of the seats 



83 

whenever the owners remove ; and 3d. Concerning in- 
torments in the church. These provisions are all wise 
and prudent, but some of them appear at the present day- 
somewhat curious. We shall only extract from this do- 
cument, the articles concerning "interments in the 
church." They are as follows : — 

"1. Those who are inclined to be interred within the 
church, are required to pay for an adult corps of sixteen 
years and upwards, £4 ; for a corps under sixteen years, 
to six years of age, £3; and for a child of six years and 
under, £2 ; and this shall be paid to the Church Masters, 
for the profit of the church. 

2. "Those who are inclined to be permitted to be interred 
in the church, are required to pay the expense of every 
person : for a corps of sixteen years and upwards, the 
sum of 27 cruilders : for one under sixteen vears to six 
years, 22 guilders : for a child of six years and under, 
19 guilders, for the profit of the schoolmaster, for the time 
being, who shall be required to see that the graves are to 
be dug so deep that two coffins can be placed therein, one 
above the other, and that the grave for the under coffin is 
seven feet deep, and that he shall remove all dirt out of 
the church." 

From this time, the practice of burying under the body 
of the church, became quite general. All the ministers 
who died after this date, (1701,) during the standing of 
that church, were interred under the building ; and this 
indeed was the case with all whose friends could afford to 
pay the extra expense connected with this privilege ; and 
this accounts for the fact, that the grave yard now contains 
so few tomb stones of ancient date. Vast numbers of 
human bones were dug up when the earth was removed 
for the foundation of the steeple to the present church. 



84 

These were all carefully preserved, and subsequently 
again buried. In front of the church, and under it have 
been interred the bodies of nearly three or four genera- 
tions. 

At the time of the building of this church, the Rev. W. 
Lupardus, was pastor. After his death, which occurred 
towards the close of the year 1701, or in the commence- 
ment of the year 1702, the congregations of the county 
made an effort to call the Rev. Bernardus Freeman, then 
pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Schenectady. 
Three men were chosen in each of the four towns, of 
Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands and New-Utrecht, for the 
purpose of prosecuting this call, in accordance with the 
provisions of the government, which then exercisd control 
over the church. An application was made to Lord 
Cornbury, the then. Governor of the Colony, for permis- 
sion to call Mr. Freeman. This request was, on the 23d 
of October, 1702, denied by the Governor ; and the four 
congregations were directed to send to Holland for a min- 
ister, in conformity with their previous custom. It would 
appear that another effort was made to obtain the Rev. Mr. 
Freeman, in the year 1703. On the 27th of April, in 
that year. Lord Cornbury, issued a warrant granting full 
liberty to call Mr. Freeman. The congregation of 
Schenectady, however, remonstrated against the proceed- 
ing, and sent a petition to Governor Cornbury, requesting 
that the calling of Mr. Freeman should be interdicted. 
But this petition was denied by Lord Cornburv in an or- 
der issued by him bearing date June 24th, 1703. A call 
was accordingly presented to the Rev. Mr. Freeman, who 
in a letter date August 2d, 1703, consents to accept the 
same, provided -^rtain conditions which he names are 
complied with. I n the 19th of Aufjust, 1703, these con- 



85 

ditions were acceded to by the congregation of Flatbush. 
Previously however to this, it would appear that certain 
difficulties had arisen relative to this matter. Some, if 
not all, the persons who had been deputed from the seve- 
ral congregations to call the Rev. Mr. Freeman, for some 
cause which does not appear, became disaffected towards 
him. In consequence of this, they did not comply with the 
instructions which they had received— but not only neg- 
lected to answer the letter of Mr. Freeman, informing- hirn 
that the congregation had complied with his stipulations, 
but addressed a letter to the Consistory of Schenectady, 
stating that the most part of the congregation were in 
favor of sending to Holland for a minister — but that only 
some " stiff heads," as they term them, had enjoined them 
to make a call upon Dom. Freeman. Eventually, Mr. 
Freeman visited the island himself, and having ascertain- 
ed the true state of things, consented to accept the call. 
The matter, however, appears to have been in agitation 
for more than two years before he came. For he was not 
installed until the year 1705. This took place by procla- 
mation of the Governor, in the church at New-Utrecht, in 
November of that year. The service was performed on 
the occasion, by the Rev. Mr. Dubois. In the mean time, 
however, the disaffected persons v/rote a letter to the 
Classisof Amsterdam, bearing date, December 10th, 1703, 
requesting that a minister should be sent out to these 
churches from Holland. This letter was received by the 
Classisof Amsterdam, on the 2d, June, 1704, and on the 
6th, of October, 1704, they commissioned the Rev. Vin- 
eentius x\ntonides, to proceed to America, for the purpose 
of becoming the pastor of the church of Flatbush, and of 
the Dutch churches adjoining. He was at the time pastor 
of the church of Bergen, in Friesland. In their letter to 

8 



86 

the churches, the Classis of Amsterdam, speak of him as 
a man of great learning, and of fine talents. He arrived 
in this country, and in connection with the Rev. Mr. 
Freeman, entered upon his duties in the year 1705. But 
a very unhappy controversy, which had its origin previ- 
ously to his arrival, continued to agitate the churches. We 
need not enter into the particulars of it. It is sufficient to 
state that the contest was so warm between the friends of 
these respective ministers, that the civil authority had to 
interfere, and one or two orders were passed on the sub- 
ject, by Lord Cornbury, the Governor. Some of these are 
curious, as exhibiting the powers which the Governor and 
his council exercised in the affairs of the church. These 
differences continued to agitate these several congrega- 
tions, until the year 1714, w^hen they were harmoniously 
reconciled. On the 27th, of December, in that year, a 
meeting was held in Flatbush, composed of delegates from 
the churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, New- 
Utrecht, Bushwick and New-Jamaica, (as it is called in 
the document which gives the account of this meeting,) or 
the Reformed Dutch congregation of Queens County, 
which was then about being organized, and was supplied 
by the ministers from this county. This meeting was as- 
sembled in good friendship, as they state in the pream- 
ble to their transactions. They all agreed to lay aside 
their differences, and to receive the Rev. Messrs. Free- 
man and Antonides, as their pastors and teachers. They 
fixed the proportion of salary, to be raised by the several 
churches for their support, and the times and places of ad- 
ministering the Lord's Supper and of preaching. In re- 
gard to the communion, it was agreed, that Buskwick, 
Brooklyn and Flatbush, should commune together ; Flat- 
lands, Gravesend and New-Utrecht, together; and the con- 
gregation of Queens County, should form another com- 



87 

munion. In regard to preaching, it was agreed, that one 
minister should preach on one Sabbath in Bushwick, and 
the other in New-Utrecht ; that on the next Sablmth, one 
in Brooklyn, and the other in Flatlands ; and the third Sab- 
bath, one in Flatbush and the other in Jamaica, and thus 
on in regular rotation. From this time forth, for a num- 
ber of years the churches enjoyed peace. 

The unhappy controversy to which we have alluded, 
was, by Him, who causes the wrath of man to praise 
Him, overruled for good. For, from that time forward, 
the churches of the county enjoyed the services of two 
ministers of the gospel who in addition to their pulpit ex- 
ercises, performed all the usual parochial duties ; such 
as visiting the sick, catechising the youth, pastoral visita- 
tion of families, and the like. All of which, had hereto- 
fore been attended to by one individual, who from the 
extent of the charge, could not possibly have rendered all 
the services which were needful and proper. 

To accommodate these pastors, it became necessary to 
provide another parsonage. Accordingly, in the year 
1711, the congregations purchased of Johannes Johnson, 
the house owned by Mr. John H. Hess, and recently oc- 
cupied by Mr. Michael Schoonmaker. Deeds for this 
property, in proportion to their several rights were given 
to the respective Dutch congregations in the county ; this 
church being entitled to the fourth equal part. This 
building was used as a parsonage, until the year 1809, 
when it was sold, an account of which will be subsequent- 
ly given. In this and the other parsonage adjoining the 
church, the Rev. Mr. Freeman, and the Rev. Mr. Antoni- 
des were accommodated, but we are not able to tell in 
which house they severally resided. 



88 

Both these ministers appear to have been men of more 
than ordinary acquirements and talent. The Rev. Mr. 
Freeman, was a very learned divine. He wrote and pub- 
lished several works. Among others, one entitled, " Tri- 
al of Grace," or the " Ballance," containing a series of 
sermons ; and another, entitled, " Apothems," which has 
been translated from the original Dutch, by General Je- 
remiah Johnson. The latter work discovers a vast amount 
of learning, and a mind of the deepest research. It is a 
treasure of truth. 

In the year 1737, a meeting of ministers was held in 
New- York, for the purpose of taking measures to organize 
a Csetus or Assembly of Ministers and Elders, subordi- 
nate to the Classis of Amsterdam, with powers some- 
what similar to those now exercised by the Classes of the 
Reformed Dutch Church, in this country. At this meet- 
ing the Rev. Mr. Freeman attended, on behalf of the 
churches on Long-Island. A plan was adopted for the 
organization of such a body, and was submitted to 
the churches, for their approbation. On the 27th, of 
April, 1738, the meeting again convened, in the city of 
New- York, for the purpose of hearing the reports on this 
subject. At this meeting the churches on Long-Island were 
repi'esented by the Rev. Mr. Freeman, and the Elders Pe- 
ter Nevius and Dirk Brinkerhoff. The plan having been 
approved by the churches generally, it was now ratified 
and adopted, and immediately sent over to the Classis of 
Amsterdam, for their approval. But for some cause not 
known, the approbation of the Classis did not reach this 
country until the j^ear 1746. It was brought over by the 
Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, of whom we shall presently speak. 
Mr. Freeman died in the year 1741. He was succeeded 
by the Rev. Johannes Arondeus, in the year 1742, who 



89 

Was the colleague of the Rev. V. Antonides till the year 
1744, when the latter died. 

On the death of Rev. Mr. Antonides, the Rev. Ulpianus 
Van Sinderen was called. He came from Holland, and 
entered upon his duties, in 1746, and continued to serve 
the congregation in connection with the Rev. Mr. Aron- 
deus until the year 1754, when Mr. Arondeus was called 
to his final account. 

Mr. Van Sinderen was the bearer of the letter from the 
Classsis of Amsterdam, containing their approbation of 
the plan of the Coetus which had been agreed upon in the 
meeting, held in New- York, in the year 1738. Shortly 
after his arrival in this country, a meeting was called to 
receive this letter. This meeting was held in the city of 
New-York, in the month of May, 1747. The Rev. Mr. 
Van Sinderen, is named first among the six ministers who 
attended this meeting. Little more was done at this time 
than receive the letter of concurrence in the plan from the 
Classis of Amsterdam, and appoint the second Tuesday of 
the following September, for the meeting of the first Csetus, 
to be held in the city of New- York, under this new plan. 
On that day, the representatives of the churches met in 
Castus, and organized the first judicatory (if it can be so 
called) higher than a consistory, that was established in the 
Dutch Church in America. The Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen 
attended as a member of this body. The plan was how- 
ever opposed by several ministers, and churches, and 
eventually gave rise to very serious troubles, which it 
would be inappropriate here to narrate in detail. 

Mr. Van Sinderen, though a man of talents, was quite 
eccentric in his manners. He was short in statue, but very 
active. 

8* 



m 

Though endowed with learning, he appears to have 
been deficient in sound judgment. He was too much in 
the habit of introducing the occurrences of the week pre- 
vious in his sermons, on the Sabbath, and often would al- 
lude to very trifling circumstances. Some amusing an- 
ecdotes, are told of him, relating to this practice. On one 
occasion, a good old Eider, who had borne with the Do- 
mine in this particular, till his patience was exhausted, 
very injudiciously, under the excitement of his feelings, 
rose in his seat, during divine service, and interrupted Mr. 
Van Sinderen, hy saying, they had called him to preach 
the gospel, and not to detail to them such matters. The 
Domine, indignant at being stopped in his discourse, lean- 
ed over the pulpit, and replied, " You, Phlip Nagle, if 
j^'ou can preach the gospel better than I can, come up here 
and try." 

After the death of the Rev. Mr. Arondeus, the Rev. 
Anthony Curtenius was called. He commenced his min- 
istry in this place in the year 1755. But in the succeed- 
ing year, on the 19th. of October, he died, being in his 
58th, year. 

About this time, or probably, a little while before, this 
church was greatly agitated, in common with the whole 
Reformed Dutch denomination, with what was called the 
Coetus and Conferentie differences. This was a contest 
which excited great warmth. It related principally to the 
question of the right of ordination, and the exercise of 
church authority. The Cietus party contended that in 
consequence of the inconvenience of sending to Holland 
for ministers, and the increase of the churches in this coun- 
try, it should be exercised by the ministers of the church, 
already in America, and that for this purpose, there 
should be a regular organization of the churches into Clas- 



91 

ses, and Synods, as was the case in Holland, to whom 
should appertain all the rights and privileges belonging 
to such ecclesiastical bodies, in the mother country. The 
Conferentie party, on the other hand, maintained that all 
ministers should be ordained in Holland, and sent forth un- 
der the authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, or by their 
permission. The controversy was a very unhappy one, 
and continued to trouble the churches until the year 1772. 
This congregation was not exempt from the general dif- 
ficulties. So divided and embittered against each other 
were many on this subject, that the different parties would 
not worship together, nor even speak to each other. 
Sometimes they would not turn out when they met on the 
road. On one occasion, it is said that two of these re- 
doubtable opponents belonging to Flatbush, meeting each 
other in their waggons, and both refusing to give the road, 
they each deliberately took out their pipes, and began to 
smoke ! How long they continued at this very pacific em- 
ployment is not stated, nor is it said whether the difficulty 
between them was lost sight of by the cloud of smoke ob-, 
scuring their vision, or whether their pipes w^ere ever 
turned into the calumut of peace. 

In August, 1759, the Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel, 
was called, who continued as colleague with the Rev. Mr. 
Van Sinderen, until the year of his death. 

The old or second church, which we have above des- 
cribed, continued without material change until about two 
years previous to the war of the American Revolution, 
when it was thought necessary to remodel or improve the 
seats, by introducing pews. Consequently, on the 6th of 
October, 1774, the church masters prepared a subscription 
paper, detailing the plan by which this desirable object 
should be accomplished. This paper was signed by every 



92 

male adult person of the congregation who had an interest 
in the church. This document exhibits in a striking man- 
ner, the wisdom, foresight, sound discretion and piety of the 
men of that day. In this too, as well as in almost every 
other public ecclesiastical document, they refer to the arti- 
cles of their faith, as established in the National Synod of 
Dordrecht, in the year 1618, 1619. The assent of the whole 
congregation having been thus prudently obtained, they 
commenced in the year 1775 to remodel the seats. The 
chairs were removed, and sixty-four pews, containing six 
seats each, were introduced. The work having been com- 
pleted on the 2Sth, day of September, in the same year, 
the pews were drawn for, by the members of the congre- 
gation, and assigned to the respective owners by lot, and 
a record of the same accordingly made. The expense 
incurred by this improvement, amounted to .£290. IG. 9. or 
8727.09, of which sum, the respective pew holders paid 
£190.4.6. equal to 8475.56. John Bennan, Thomas 
Lane, Isaac Martense, Adrian Martense and Vincent An- 
tonides, were the carpenters who performed the work, and 
the painting was done by William Post. There were two 
galleries along the easterly side of the church, divided by 
the door ; the one was occupied by the whites, and the other 
by coloured persons. The benches below, under these gal- 
leries were free, and usually occupied by non-residents. On 
each side of the church were two windows, and one upper 
window in each of the ends, at the north and south. These 
were all provided with shutters. The bell rope hung 
down in the centre of the church, was easy of access, and 
often used to give alarms, during the revolutionary war. 
Here were two benches with backs, one called the "Ye- 
frows Bench," and the otherthe "Blue Bench." The former^ 
was for the accommodation of the minister's wife and fam- 



93 

i'ly and the other was let out to other individuals, and from 
its position, was regarded as an honorable seat. Boards 
on which the first Psalm to be sung was noted, were 
hung upon the walls of the church, for the benefit of such 
as were not present when it was announced. The Dea- 
cons were furnished with long rods, at the ends of which, 
were velvet bags, in which to take up the collection, and 
they usually stood for a few moments with their poles in 
their hands in front of the pulpit, till the minister briefly 
reminded the congregation of their duty to the poor. 

The Rev. Messrs. Van Sinderen and Rubel, continued 
to officiate in the church, until the close of the revolu- 
tionary war, in 1783. With regard to these individuals, 
several unpleasant difficulties arose in the five congrega- 
tions of the county, who were under their pastoral charge, 
— and as their residence, as that of all the previous min- 
isters had been, was at Flatbush, the inhabitants of this 
town took a warm and active interest in these differences. 
The particulars of these, it would not be edifying to re- 
late. In regard to politics, which during the revolutionary 
struggle, was a matter of deep interest ; the Rev. Mr. 
Van Sinderen appears to have been in favor of the Ameri- 
can cause, and the Rev. Mr. Rubel, strongly opposed to 
it. On a fast day which was ordered to be kept by the 
Provincial Congress, the latter preached in Flatbush, from 
the text, "honor the king;" when among other things, he 
said, " people could do as well without a head as without 
a king." This gave great offence to those who were in fa- 
vor of throwing off" the British yoke. 

At the close of the war, in June 1784, at the request of 
the united Consistory, the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen resign- 
ed his charge, and on the 12th of July, in the same year, 
was declared Emeritus and a certain salary voted to him 



94 

as such, which was regularly paid him, until the day of 
his death, which occurred on the 23d of July, 1796. He 
was interred in the grave yard at Flatlands, to which 
place he had removed some {"ew years previously. The 
Rev. Mr. Ruble, was for certain causes, which it is not ne- 
cessary to mention, deposed from the office of the sacred 
ministry, by the Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, 
in the early part of the year 1784. He remained under 
this censure, till the time of his death, which took place 
in 1799. His remains lie interred in the public cemetery 
of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush. 

In the year 1785, a call was made on the Rev. Marti- 
nus Schoonmaker, then officiating at Gravesend and Har- 
leam. He having accepted the call, the congregation 
of Gravesend was admitted formally into the combina- 
tion. On the 28th of October, 1787, the Rev. Peter 
Lowe, a native of Ulster County, who had completed his 
theological studies under the Rev. Dr. Livingston, was 
installed colleague pastor with Mr. Schoonmaker. These 
two continued to preach alternately in the old church, 
until it was taken down, in the year 1794. All the ser- 
vices of the above named ministers, were performed in 
the Dutch language, until the 10th of April, 1792, when 
it was resolved that the service in the afternoon, in the 
congregations of Brooklyn, Flatbush and New-Utrecht, 
should be held in the English language, on such days as 
the Rev. Mr. Lowe should preach in those places. 

In the year 1785, the church became incorporated. 
As this introduced an important change in the manage- 
ment of the fiscal concerns, it may be proper here to 
present the following statement, of the manner in which 
the temporalities of the church had been previously ad- 
ministered, and the steps taken to obtain the incorporation. 



95 

The landed estate and general financial interests of the 
Church of Flatbush, from the time of its organization, 
were entrusted to the care and management of Church 
Masters, similar to the mode and usage practised by the 
Reformed churches in Holland. The Church Masters 
were three in number, elected by the '• Gemeente," or 
assembled congregation, out of the Consistory, and held 
their offices for two years, corresponding with the official 
term of the Elders and Deacons. When the Church 
Masters were first chosen, they were divided into two 
classes, and the seat of the member of the first class be- 
came vacant at the expiration of the first year, and the 
seats of the two members of the second class, at the ex- 
piration of the second year, so that thereafter, one or the 
other members of each class might be annually chosen. 
They were required to render an annual statement of 
their receipts and expenditures, and the correctness of the 
accounts of the retiring Church Master, or Church Mas- 
ters, as the case might be, was always certified on the 
church books. The temporalities belonging to the church, 
and consisting of real and personal estate, appear to have 
been prudently and judiciously managed and preserved 
by the Church Masters thus chosen, down to the close of the 
year, 1784, a period of nearly one hundred and seventy 
years. The last Church Masters, were John Vanderbilt, 
Isaac Snediker and Johannes E. Lott, whose accounts 
were examined by the Trustees of the church, and by 
them found satisfactory : whereupon the following certifi- 
cate was entered upon the church books. "John Van- 
derbilt, Isaac Snediker and Johannes E. Lott, Church 
Masters, having come .together, and rendered an account 
of their receipts and expenditures to the Trustees who are 
chosen in their place, and the Church Masters have been 



^6 

found faithful in their trust, are thanked by us, the under- 
written Trustees, for their services." 

On the 6th day of April, in the year 1784, the Legis- 
lature of the State of New- York, passed an Act, entitled 
" An Act to enable all religious denominations in this 
State, to appoint Trustees, who should be a Body Corpo- 
rate, for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of 
their respective congregations, and for other purposes 
therein mentioned." As the revolutionary war was now 
just closed, and peace again restored, the inhabitants of the 
tov/n of Flatbush, at once saw the advantages which their 
church might derive from this Act authorizing the incor- 
poration of religious societies. Accordingly, on Sunday 
the 26th day of December, 1784, public notice was given 
by the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, the minister of the 
church, by a publication therein, immediately after divine 
service, and before the congregation was dismissed, notify- 
ing all male persons who statedly worshiped in the said 
church, to meet therein, on the 17th day of January, then 
next ensuing, at one o'clock in the afternoon of the same 
day, for the purpose of electing Trustees to take care of the 
temporalities of the said church, pursuant to the provisions 
of the above-mentioned Act. The same notification was 
again made, in the said church, by the same minister, on 
the 2d day of January, 1785, in manner aforesaid. In 
pursuance of which notifications, the male persons who 
statedly worshiped in the said church, accordingly met at 
the time and place appointed, and in the presence of Jere- 
mias Van Der Bilt and Joris Martense, Elders and Judges 
of the election, did then, and there, by plurality of voices, 
elect Phlip Nagel, Cornelius WyckoiT, Hendrick Suy- 
dam, Peter LefFerts and John R. Vanderbilt, Trustees to 
take care of the temporalities of the said church, pur- 



97 

suant to the directions in the said Act mentioned and pre- 
scribed. The style, name and title, by which the said 
Trustees and their successors should forever thereafter be 
called, known and distinguished, was designated to be, 
" The Trustees of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of 
Flatbush." These proceedings were all certified under 
the hands and seals, of Jeremias Vanderbilt and Joris 
Martense, the above-named Elders and Judges of the elec- 
tion, and duly acknowledged and recorded in the Clerk's 
office of the County of Kings, on the said 17th day of 
January, 1785. Upon the organization of the Board of 
Trustees, Philip Nagel was appointed their Treasurer, 
and they made a record of all the real and personal es- 
tate belonging to the church. 

The church of Flatbush continued under the above- 
mentioned Act, providing for the incorporation of religious 
societies generally, until the 19th day of December, 1804. 
Some few years anterior to this time, the Legislature of 
the State, passed a special Act providing for the incorpo- 
ration of the Reformed Dutch Churches, and therein desig- 
nated who should be the Trustees of every Dutch church, 
and the manner of their appointment. By this Act, it is 
provided that the '"minister or ministers, and elders and 
deacons, and if during any time there be no minister, then 
the elders and deacons during such time, of every Reform- 
ed Protestant Dutch Church or congregation, now, or 
hereafter to be established in this State, and elected ac- 
cordins: to the rules and usages of such churches within 
this State, shall be the Trustees for every such church or 
congregation. The Act then prescribes the mode in 
which the Trustees and their successors shall become a 
body corporate, and the name or title of such incorpora- 
tion. In the same Act, further provision is made that it 

9 



98 

shall be lawful for the Trustees of any Reformed Protes- 
tant Dutch Church or congregation, elected by virtue of 
any former law of this State, by writing under their hands 
and seals, duly proved and acknowledged, and also re- 
corded in the office of the clerk of the county, to declare 
their will, not to continue any longer a body corporate 
under such former law, and thereupon such body corpo- 
rate shall cease, and all the estate, real and personal held 
by them, shall pass and be vested in the Trustees of the 
church or congregation made a body corporate, in the 
manner provided for the Dutch churches. 

Under the provisions of the Act last above-mentioned, 
John Hegeman, Johannes E. Lott, Court Van Brunt and 
Andrew Suydam, " The Trustees of the Reformed 
Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush," elected ac- 
cording to the provisions of the Act, entitled " An Act to 
enable all religious denominations in this State, to appoint 
Trustees, who shall be a body corporate, for the purpose 
of taking care of the temporalities of their respective 
congregations, and for other purposes therein mentioned," 
Passed April 6th, 1784, did on the 19th day of Decem- 
ber, 1804, by a certificate executed under their hands and 
seals, certify and declare, that they would not continue 
any longer a body corporate, under the said recited Act ; 
which certificate was duly proved, acknowledged and re- 
corded, as the Act requires. On the same day, (Decem- 
ber 19th 1804,) Martinus Schoonmaker and Peter Lowe, 
ministers, Peter Stryker, John Williamson, Johannes E. 
Lott and Hendrick H. Suydam, Elders, and Joseph Hege- 
man, Cornelius Stryker and Lawrence Voorhees, Deacons 
elected according to the rules and usages of the Reform- 
ed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, did by a certifi- 
cate, executed under their hands and seals, also certify 
and declare, that they and their successors, forever should 



99 

be known and distinguished as a body corporate, by virtue* 
of the Act entitled " An Act, to provide for the incorpora- 
tion of religious societies." Passed March 27th, 1801, 
(see Revised Laws of the State of New- York, by Kent 
and RadclifT, vol. 1, page 336,) by the name or title of 
"The Trustees of the Reformed Protestant Dutch 
Church of the Town of Flatbush, in Kings County." 
This certificate was also duly proved and acknowledged, 
and recorded in the Clerk's office, of the County of Kings. 
And the minister or ministers. Elders and Deacons of the 
church, have ever since been continued, under the provi- 
sions of the last mentioned Act, as a body corporate, by 
the name or title expressed and set forth in the original 
certificate now remaining of record. 

On the 19th of August, 1793, the inhabitants of the 
town of Flatbush, assembled in public meeting at the 
church, and having again declared their adherence to the 
doctrines and order of the Dutch Church, as ratified by 
the National Synod, held at Dordrecht, unanimously re- 
solved to erect a new house for public worship. Certain 
conditions and stipulations were agree upon, and a build- 
ing committee, consisting of the Trustees of the church, 
then five in number, and five Commissioners were ap- 
pointed to carry their design into execution. The names 
of these Trustees and Commissioners, were Cornelius 
Vanderveer, John Bennem, Johannes J. Lott, Peter Stry- 
ker, John Vanderveer, John Vanderbilt, Hendrick H. 
Suydam, Johannes E. Lott, John Williamson and Adrian 
Martense. This committee immediately proceeded to their 
work. They engaged Thomas Fardon as the architect and 
master builder, and Simeon Back, Frederic Cleaveland, 
Abijah Baldwin, Gideon Seaman, and other carpenters 
under him. The master mason was John Sanford, who 
was assisted by his two brotherc .and others under him. 



100 

The painting of the church, when completed, was done 
by Matthew Hall, the father of George Hall, the fir&t 
Mayor of the city of Brooklyn. This edifice, which is 
the one now standing, was three years in building. It 
was commenced in December, 1793, and finished in De- 
cember, 1796. It is- most saibstantially built — all the 
stones of the former church being placed in its founda- 
tion, which is at least six feet broad. Most of the stones 
for the walls, were quarried at Hurlgate. They were 
brought by water to Gowanus and Denton's mill, by Je- 
remiah Van Dyke, from whence they were carted to Flat- 
bush, by the inhabitants. The brown stone which forms 
the three upper courses just above the foundation, were 
broken out of the Brooklyn woods. The brick around the 
doors and windows, which by the way, is almost the only 
matter of bad taste about the building, came from Hol- 
land, as ballast, in one of the ships belonging to the Ho- 
norable John Vanderbilt. 

The cost of this edifice was £4873. 7. 7. equal to 
$12,183, 44. exclusive of the labor and cartage perform- 
ed by the members of ihe congregation, which was an 
item of very considerable amount. On the 6th day of 
December, 1796, the pews in the church amounted to nine- 
ty-seven, exclusive of those reserved for the Elders and 
Deacons, the Pastor, the Justice of the peace, and a few 
for strangers, were sold at public auction, for the aggre- 
gate sum of £2013. 7. 9. equalto$5.033, 47. which did 
not meet the expense of the building by more than $7,000. 
A suitable register of the pews was then made, and of 
their respective owners. At the completion of the church, 
in the year 1796, a fine bell, imported expressly from 
Holland, was presented fo-r its use, by the Honorable John 
Vanderbilt, for which a vote of thanks was passed by the 
Consistory, a copy of w^ioh was ordered to be transmitted 



101 

to the liberal donor. The vessel in which this bell was 
shipped, was captured by the British, on her passage to 
this country, and carried into Halifax, — and from the fact 
that the bell had on it, this inscription, " Presented to the 
Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush, by John Vander- 
bilt," it was presumed that both vessel and cargo, belong- 
ed to a Holland merchant, and she was on the point of 
being condemned, when Mr. Charles Clarkson, the son-in- 
law of Mr. Vanderbilt, went to Halifax and testified that 
he was a citizen of the United Spates. It is something of 
a remarkable fact, that the second or third time that this 
bell was used, was on the occasion of the funeral of this 
noble spirited man. Although we shall have occasion 
hereafter to mention this distinguished individual, we 
trust we shall be pardoned for here stopping for a moment, 
to render the tribute of respect to his memory. He was 
a man of great nobleness of mind, of liberal views, and 
of enlarged public spirit. He died on the 18th of No- 
vember, 1796, in the fift^^-seventh year of his age. His 
monumental stone, bears the following testimony to his 
worth. " He was a merchant of distinguished probitj' — a 
real patriot — an affectionate relative — a sincere friend, 
and a worthy man. Blessed with affluence, he displayed 
a spirit of munificence in promoting the interests of his 
country, of religion and virtue. The moderation and 
conciliatory disposition which accompanied and conducted 
his virtues, secured him through life, an esteem almost 
unrivalled, and rendered his death, a great loss to the 
public, and to his family irreparable." 

The church after its completion, was dedicated to the 
service of Almighty God, in the month of January, 1797. 
The Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, preached a sermon in 
the Dutch language, on that interesting occasion, and the 

9* 



ia2 

Rev. Peter Lowe, preached in English in the afternoon of 
the same day. 

The combination between the six congregations of the 
county, to which we have alluded, continued until the 
year 1805, when the church of Brooklyn, called the Rev. 
Selah S. Woodhull, as their pastor exclusively. In the 
year 1808, the churches of Flatbush and Flatlands, 
united in a call upon the Rev. Peter Lowe, to become 
their pastor, which was accepted, and he continued in that 
relation, until the time of his death, which occurred on 
the 10th day of June, 1818. He was much beloved by 
the people of his charge ; a man of fervent piety and of 
active usefulness. His death was that of the triumphant 
Christian. His remains lie interred in the public ceme- 
tery of this church. 

In the fall of the year 1818, the churches of Flat- 
bush and Flatlands-, made a call on theRev. Walter 
Monteith, who was installed their pastor in the year 
1819. He continued his connection with this people 
only for a little more than a year, — for on the 13th 
of April, 1820, he resigned his charge, having accepted 
a call to the Presbyterian Church in Schenectady. After 
the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Monteith, the congrega- 
tions remained vacant for upwards of two years. In the 
month of May, 1822, a call was made out by the church of 
Flatbush alone, on the present pastor, which was accepted 
by him, in August of that year, and on the 17th day of 
November ensuing, (1822,) he was installed by the Clas- 
sis of Long-Island. The combination between the six 
Dutch churches in the county, was not however finally 
dissolved, until the death of the Rev. Martinus Schoon- 
maker, which took place on the 20th day of May, 1824, 
when he was at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 
This venerable man was eminent for his faithful perfor- 



103 

mance of duty, and his devotion to his Masters work. He 
continued to preach until within a few months of his 
death, — after having served the people of his charge for 
nearly forty years, he was gathered to his fathers, and his 
end was peace. 

In the year 1830, measures were first taken for the 
erection of the Consistory Room of the Reformed Dutch 
Church of Flatbush. The want of accommodation for 
religious services, other than those on the Sabbath, and 
particularly of a suitable place in which to hold the Sab- 
bath Schools, had been long felt ; one of the school rooms 
in the Academy, had been used for the former purpose, 
and the church for the latter. But neither was such as 
circumstances called for. Arrangements were according- 
ly made for the erection of a seperate building, which 
was completed in 1831, at the expense of 81,195.82. To 
meet this, a voluntary subscription, amounting to about 
$600, was taken up among the members of the congrega- 
tion, and the balance was paid by a donation from the 
Ladies' Sewing Society, and by the Consistory, who contri- 
buted nearly 8400. 

During the winter of 1836-37, some important im- 
provements were made in the interior of the Reformed 
Dutch Church in Flatbush. We need not particularly 
specify them, as they are all well known to the present 
inhabitants. The pews on the ground floor, were all re- 
modelled, and rendered more comfortable, and a gallery 
was erected across the east end of the church. 

Reformed Dutch Church at New-Lots. 

In the year 1823, measures were taken for the erec- 
tion of a church edifice in New-Lots. The building was 



104 

commenced in that year, and finished in the succeeding 
spring. It was dedicated to the service of Ahuighty God, 
in July 1824, on which occasion the Rev. John Alburtis, 
then a minister of the Presbyterian Church, officiated. 
During the period when the building was erecting, efforts 
were made to have that part of the congregation of Flat- 
bush organised into a separate church. But they had 
been ineffectual. On the 12th of August 1824, however, 
the Classis of Long-Island resolved that they should be- 
come a distinct congregation, and took measures ac- 
cordingly, to organize them into a church, which took 
place in the latter part of that month, the late Rev. David 
S. Bogart, by order of the Classis, officiating on the oc- 
casion. During the succeeding winter, they united with 
the church of Flatlands in making out a call upon the 
Rev. William Crookshank, a licentiate from the Theolo- 
gical Seminary at New-Brunswick, who in February, 
1825, was ordained by the Classis, and installed pastor of 
the churches of New-Lots and Flatlands. He continued 
his connection with this people, for a little more than ten 
years. In April 1835, he resigned his charge and re- 
moved to the village of Newburgh. On the 22d of March 
1836, the Rev. J. Abeel Baldwin, having accepted their 
call, was installed pastor of these churches, who is still 
officiating among them with much acceptance and useful- 
ness. 

Episcopal Church at Flatbush. 

In June 1836, incipient steps were taken to oi'ganize an 
Episcopal Church in Flatbush. The first service pre- 
paratory to this, was held by the Rev. Dr. Cutler, of 
Brooklyn, in the Consistory Room of the Reformed Dutch 




5ftgS3S3i£''i'- 



w^S t , Vi>^ rfV'.v- J^-«?J 4 (-i 






105 

Church, which had been offered for the occasion, by the 
Consistory. In reference to this enterprize, although it 
was the first attempt to introduce the services of another 
denomination of Christians in the town, the kindest feel- 
ings were entertained and expressed, and such facilities 
were afforded to further it as Christian courtesy dictated, 
on behalf of the officers and members of the Reformed 
Dutch Church. On the 11th of July, 1836, the follow- 
ing persons were chosen to constitute the first Vestry, viz : 

Matthew Clarkson and Robert J. Crommelin, Wardens; 
David Johnson, James Mowatt, George Cornell, C. Du- 
rand, Charles Waldron, A. Norrie, William H. Story 
and Samuel Richards, Jr., Vestrymen. 

The corner stone of the church was laid in accordance 
with the forms and provisions of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, on the 13th day of August, 1836, by the Right 
Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, Bishop of the Diocese of New- 
York, when it was named the "St. Paul's Church of Flat- 
bush." An address was delivered on the occasion, by the 
Rev. Benjamin C. Cutler, D. D. The building, which 
will well compare with any of its size, for beauty, neat- 
ness and symmetry, was finished in the fall of the same 
year. The cost of this edifice, including certain improve- 
ments around the church, and the organ, was $8,480. 
To meet this, a subscription was taken from sundry indi- 
viduals, amounting to f 2,398. The balance, which was 
86,082, was generously contributed by Matthew Clark- 
son, Esq. 

On the 23d of December, 1836, the Rev. Thomas S. 
Brittain, was chosen the first rector. The church was 
consecrated to the service of Almighty God, by the Bishop 
of the Diocese, on the 29th day of December, in the same 
year. The instrument of donation was read by the Rev. 



106 

Mr. Brittain, the rector, and the instrument of consecra- 
tion, by the Rev. John F. Messenger, assistant. From 
that time forth, services were regularly held in the church 
on every Sunday ; the Rev. Mr. Brittain the rector, offi- 
ciating in the afternoon, and the Rev. Mr. Messenger, 
the assistant, in the morning. On September 1st, 1837, 
the Rev. Mr. Messenger resigned, and on the 3d of the 
same month, the Rev. James Coghlan commenced officiat- 
ing in his place. The Rev. Mr. Brittain resigned his 
rectorship, on the 29th of March, 1838, and on the 6th 
day of April, in the same year, the Rev. Mr. Coghlan 
succeeded as rector. He continued to officiate as such, 
until the fall of the succeeding year, when, in conse- 
quence of his removal to England, he resigned. This 
took place on the 21st of October, 1839. On the 30th of 
March, 1840, the Rev. William Barlow, the present 
worthy rector, was elected to that office, with whose excel- 
lencies of mind and character, the inhabitants of the town 
are well acquainted.* 

Reformed Dutch Church at East New- York. 

In the year 1838, a new Reformed Dutch Church was 
built at East New-York, a settlement of some considera- 
ble extent, which has grown up in the north west part of 
New-Lots, bordering on the turnpike. This church was 
dedicated to the service of God, in the spring of the suc- 
ceeding year, and in the month of May, of that year, 1839, 
the Rev. William H. Campbell, was installed as their pas- 
tor. He continued his connection with them until the fall 



* The Rev. Mr. Barlow, resigned his rectorship, on or about the 
1st of April, 1842, 



107 

of 1841, when he removed to Albany, to take charge of 
the Third Reformed Dutch Church of that city. 

Thus, in the good providence of God, have churches 
been multiplied within the bounds of the town of Flat- 
bush. Twenty years ago there was but one edifice for 
the accommodation of all the community. Now we have 
four respectable churches, besides a building which a few 
years ago was put up in the woods, between this and New- 
Lots, for the use of the colored population, particularly of 
the Methodist denomination. Would, that while these fa- 
cilities for divine worship are afforded, and the various 
ministers in our bounds are from Sabbath to Sabbath pro- 
claiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, all our inha- 
bitants may become wise unto salvation. 



LITERARY HISTORY. 



Village School. 

No principle was more deeply engraved upon the heart 
of the Hollander than that " the church and the school 
must be maintained ;" a principle of the soundest wisdom, 
and of the most practical utility. For, without education, 
morality and religion, there can be no foundation for so- 
cial order and prosperity. These are the great safeguards 
of the community, and where these are fostered and en- 
couraged, we have reason to expect not only intelligence 
and virtue, but a due respect to the laws of the land, and 
to all the rights and privileges of those who are associated 
in any one community. Accordingly, the early Dutch 
settlers in Flatbush, imbued with the principle which has 
just been mentioned, soon after their settlement, took mea- 
sures for the education of their children, and the mainte- 
nance of suitable schools. Among the first records of the 
town, we find notice of the employment of a schoolmaster. 
Much care seems to have been taken, not only in the se- 
lection, but in the agreements formed with the teachers of 
their children. The first schoolmaster of whom we have 
any knowledge, was Adrian Hegeman. He was one of 
the original proprietors of the town, and was the owner 
of the farm lying immediately north of the property now 
in the tenure of Mr. Isaac Cortelyou. He was the ances- 
tor of the widow of the late Peter Lefferts, and probably 



109 

of the whole family of Hegemans, now living. He was 
engaged as schoolmaster from 1659, to 1671. 

From the records of the town, it appears that the 
schoolmaster acted as Town Clerk, and as the rates 
of tuition were low, previously to the American re- 
volution, the offices of sexton, and " Foresinger," or 
chorister, of the church, were conferred upon him, 
with a view to increase his emoluments. He receiv- 
ed all interment fees, for infants and adults, accord- 
ing to a scale of established prices, and for his services as 
chorister, he was paid an annual salary by the Consisto- 
ry of the church. The chorister, in addition to his duty of 
taking the lead in setting und singing the Psalms and 
Hymns, was also required to ring the bell for all public ser- 
vices, to read the commandments at the commencement of 
the morning worship, and the Apostles creed, in the after- 
.noon. These latter services were all performed in the 
Dutch language, and uniformly continued so until about 
t4ie year 1T90, at the time when Mr. Gabriel Ellison, the 
first English schoolmaster left the village. 

The following is a list of the schoolmasters of the town 
of Flatbush, from the year 1659, to the year 1802, when 
the village school was removed into the Academy. 

Adrian Hegeman, from 

Jacop Joosten, " 

Francays De Burynne " 

Michael Hainelle '• 

Jan Gerrit Van Marckje, " 

Derick Storm, " 

Jan Tiebout, " 

Johannes Van Eckkellen, '• 

Johannes Schenck, " 



Jan Gancell 






1659 


to 


1671. 


1671 




1673. 


1673 




1674. 


1674 




1675. 


1675 




1680, 


1680 




1681. 


1681 




1682, 


1682 




1700. 


1700 




1711. 


1711 




1719. 



10 



110 



Adrian Hegeman, f 


rom 


1719 


to 


1741. 


Jores Remsen, 


a 


1741 




1762. 


Petrus Van Steenburgh, 


a 


1762 




1773. 


Anthony Welp, 


a 


1773 




1776. 


Gabriel Ellison, 


a 


1776 




1790. 


John Rubell, 


a 


1790 




1793. 


Michael Schoonmaker, 


a 


1793 




1798. 


Patrick Dillon, 


u 


1798 






Patrick Noon, 


a 






1802. 



Specific and very particular agreements were made 
with these several schoolmasters, which are entered at 
large, upon the town records. It may be interesting to pre- 
sent one or two of these, to show the duties which these 
persons formerly were required to perform, and the man- 
ner in which they were to instruct the children. The fol- 
lowinc: is a translation of the asrreement made with Johan- 
nes Van Eckkelen, who commenced his duties as school- 
master, in Flatbush, in the year 1682. 

"Johannes Van Eckkelen, a young man from New- Alba- 
ny, is hereby called and accepted, on the first day of Oc- 
tober, 1681, with the advice and consent of the Honorable 
Magistrates, to perform the duties heretofore required of 
JanThibaud, in manner following: (1.) He shall serve the 
Church and School, according to the existing ordinances, 
in the same manner, as they have been heretofore perfor- 
med by the above named Jan Thibaud, and as hereunder 
written. — (2.) This contract shall take effect, from the 
first day of October, Inst, and continue to the first day of 
<May next, for the purpose of making a trial of each other 
in the mean time. — (3.) For the performance of the above 
duties, he shall be entitled to receive the sum of 234 guil- 
ders, in grain, valued in Seewant, with the other privile- 
ges appertaining to the calling, during the time specified. 



Ill 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT 

WITH 

JOHANNES VAN ECKKELEN. 

Accepted Schoolmaster and Chorister of Flathush. 

School Service. — I. The school shall begin at eight 
o'clock, and go out at eleven ; and in the afternoon shall 
begin at one o'clock, and end at four. The bell shall be 
rung when the school commences.* 

II. When the school begins, one of the children shall 
read the morning prayer, as it stands in the catechism, 
and close with the prayer before dinner ; in the afternoon 
it shall begin with the prayer after dinner, and end with 
the evening prayer. The evening school shall begin with 
the Lord's prayer, and close by singing a psalm. 

III. He shall instruct the children on every Wednesday 
and Saturday, in the common prayers, and the questions 
and answers in the catechism, to enable them to repeat 
them the better on Sunday before the afternoon service^ 
or on Monday, when ihey shall be catechised before the 
congregation. Upon all such occasions, the schoolmas- 
ter shall be present, and shall require the children to be 
friendly in their appearance and encourage them to an- 
swer freely and distincly. 

IV. He shall be required to keep his school nine 
months in succession, from September to June, in each 



♦ The bell used on these occasions was the church bell. The prac- 
tice of ringing this bell at the opening of the school continued till the 
year 1791, when the second church was taken down. The church 
bell was also used by the Academy, for nearly ten years. 



112 

year, in case it should be concluded upon to retain his 
services for a year or more, or without limitation ; and he 
shall then be required to be regulated by these articles, 
and to perform the same duties which his predecessor, Jan 
Thibaud, above named, was required to perform. In ev- 
ery particular therefore, he shall be required to keep 
school, according to this seven months agreement, and shall 
always be present himself. 

CiHURCH Service. — I. He shall keep the church clean, 
and ring the bell three times before the people assemble 
to attend the preaching and catechising. Also before the 
sermon is commenced, he shall read a chapter out of the 
Holy Scriptures, and that, between the second and third 
ringing of the bell. After the third ringing he shall read 
the ten commandments, and the twelve articles of our 
faith, and then take the lead in singing. In the afternoon 
after the third ringing of the bell, he shall* read a short 
chapter, or one of the Psalms of David, as the congrega- 
tion are assembling ; and before divine service commen- 
ces, shall introduce it, by the singing of a Psalm or Hymn. 

II. — When the minister shall preach at Brooklyn, or 
New-Utrecht, he shall be required to read twice before the 
congregation, from the book commonly used for that pur- 
pose. In the afternoon he shall also read a sermon on the 
explanation of the catechism, according to the usage and 
practice approved of by the minister. The children as 
usual, shall recite their questions and answ^ers out of the 
catechism, on Sunday, and he shall instruct them therein. 
He, as chorister, shall not be required to perform these 
duties, whenever divine service shall be performed in 
Flatlands, as it would be unsuitable, and prevent many 
from attending there. 



113 

III. — For the administration of Holy Baptism, he shall 
provide a basin with water, for which he shall be entitled 
to receive from the parents, or witnesses, twelve styvers. 
He shall, at the expense of the church, provide bread and 
wine, for the celebration of the Holy Supper ; He shall be 
in duty bound promptly to furnish the minister with the 
name of the child to be baptized, and with the names of 
the parents and witnesses. And he shall also serve as 
messenger for the consistory. 

IV.^ — He shall give the funeral invitations, dig the 
grave, and toll the bell, for which service he shall receive 
for a person of fifteen years and upwards, twelve guilders, 
and for one under that age, eight guilders. If he should 
be required to give invitations beyond the limits of the 
town, he shall be entitled to three additional guilders, for 
the invitation of every other town, and if he should be re- 
quired to cross the river, and go to New-York, he shall 
receive four guilders. 

School Money. — He shall receive from those who at- 
tend the day school, for a speller or reader, three guilders 
a quarter, and for a writer four guilders. From those 
who attend evening school, for a speller or reader, four 
guilders, and for a writer, six guilders shall be given. 

Salary. — In addition to the above, his salary shall con- 
sist of four hundred guilders, in grain, valued in Seewant, 
to be delivered at Brooklyn Ferry, and for his services 
from October to May, as above stated, a sum of two hun- 
dred and thirty-four guilders, in the same kind, with the 
dwelling house, barn, pasture lot, and meadows, to the 
school appertaining. The same to take effect from the 
first day of October, Instant. 



114 

Done and agreed upon in Consistory, under the inspec- 
tion of the Honorable Constable and Overseers, the 8th,' 
of October, 1682. * 

Constable and Overseers. The Consistory. 

Cornelius Berrian Casparus Van Zurek, Minister^ 

Rykier Aertsen, Adriaen Reyerse., 

Jak Remsen, Cornelis Barent Vandewyck. 

1 agree to the above articles, and promise to perform 
tliem according to the best of my ability. 

JOHANNES VAN ECKKELEN." 

Many of the pro-visions of this agreeiuent are calculat- 
ed at this day to excite a smile. But in one particular it 
is to be admired. It shows how careful and exact our 
forefathers were, in embuing the minds of the young and 
rising generation, with a reverence for the God of their ex- 
istence, and with a knowledge of the principles of our ho- 
ly religion. These are matters which we cannot too sa- 
credly guard. Mere secular knowledge is not a safe- 
guard to pej'sonal virtue, nor to the security of the State. 
Sound education consists not simply in the cultivation of 
the mind, but in the infusion of moral and religious prin- 
ciples. Without the latter, it is but a frail support of the 
great temple of liberty and independence. But when mo- 
ral principles are inculcated in connection with intellectu- 
al light, we may hope to see the youth growing up in vir- 
tue and proving ornaments in their day, and supports to 
the church and the state. Such was the deep rooted sen- 
timent of the early Dutch settlers, and was transmitted by 
them to their- immediate descendants. And hence the 
careful provisions in all their agreements with their schoa-1- 



115 

masters. At that time religious instruction could be in- 
troduced in the schools without any difficulty, as all the 
community were of one faith — All adhering to the Belgic 
Confession, the articles of the Synod of Dort, and the Ca- 
techisms of the Reformed Dutch Church. Such a mode of 
instruction however, from the present state of society, and 
the multiplication of religious sects, cannot now be pursued. 
But we deprecate the day, when the Bible shall be exclu- 
ded from our common schools, and no care taken to in- 
still into the minds of the young, sound moral principles, 
the principles of the religion of Christ. 

We have presented an agreement formed with a school- 
master, in the year 1682. We now give one made in the 
year 1773, nearly one hundred years after, with Anthony 
Welp, the last teacher of the Dutch language. As will 
be seen, it contains many of the provisions of the former, 
and is based in general, upon the same principles. 

" In Kings County, 
" Flathush, August 18; 1773. 

'• The undersigned, Philippus Nagel, Johannes Ditmars 
and Cornelius Vanderveer, Jr., being authorized by the 
town of Flatbush, to call a schoolmaster for the same 
town, have agreed with Mr. Anthony Welp, to keep 
school in the following manner. 

" First the school shall begin and end in a Christian- 
like manner : At 8 o'clock in the morning it shall begin 
with the morning prayer, and end at 11 o'clock, with 
prayer. 

" 1st. For dinner. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, it 
shall begin with the prayer after meat, and at 4 o'clock in 
the afternoon, end with the evening prayer. 



116 

" 2d. The above named schoolmaster shall teach child- 
ren and adult persons, low dutch and english spelling and 
reading, and also cyphering to all who may desire or re- 
quest such instruction. 

" 3d. The above named schoolmaster shall have for the 
instruction of every child or person, in low dutch spelling, 
reading and writing, the sum of four shillings : for those 
who are instructed in english spelling, reading and writ- 
ing, the sum of five shillings : and for those who are in- 
structed in cyphering, the sum of six shillings : and that 
for three months instruction : and also a load of firewood 
shall be brought for each scholar, every nine months, for 
the use of the school. 

" 4th. The above schoolmaster shall keep school five days 
in every week : once in each week in the afternoon, the 
scholars shall learn the questions and answers in Borges 
Catechism : or the questions and answers in the Hei- 
dleburgh Catechism, with the scripture texts thereto be- 
longing, or as it may be desired by the scholar or by his 
guardian, for any other day in the week, so as to be most 
beneficial to the one instructed. 

" 5th. The above named schoolmaster shall occupy the 
school-house, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, 
in the same manner as the same was occupied by the 
schoolmaster, Petrus Van Steenburgh. Also, the above 
named schoolmaster shall be yearly paid by the Worthy 
Consistory, the sum of four pounds, to attend to the church 
services, such as reading and singing ; and for the inter- 
ment of the dead, the above named schoolmaster shall be 
entitled to receive so much as is customary in the above 
named town. 

" 6th, and Lastly. The above agreement shall be obli- 
gatory for such length of time as the present schoolmas- 



117 

ter shall render his services amangst us. But if it should 
so happen that the town should not require the services of 
the above named schoolmaster, any longer after the ex- 
piration of one year : in such case the schoolmaster shall 
have three months notice thereof, from the above authoriz- 
ed persons, or from such persons as may be thereto ap- 
pointed. And if the above named schoolmaster should 
desire to discontinue his services, he shall in like manner 
give the town three months previous notice of his intention. 

For the mutual performance of this agreement, we 
have signed this with our hands. 

N. B. The above sums of money mentioned in the 
Third Article, shall be paid by those who send the scho- 
lars to school. 

" PHILLIPPUS NAGEL, 
JOHANNES DITMARS, 
CORS. V. D. VEER, Junr. 
ANTHONY WELP." 

We have not been able to gather any information rela- 
tive to the character or attainments of these early school- 
masters. Nor have we met with any of their literary 
productions. We cannot, however, refrain in this place, 
from presenting the following rare specimen of poetic pro- 
ficiency, which we find on the title page of the first 
Minute Book of the Board of Supervisors of the County 
of Kings. It was composed by J. M. Sperling of Flat- 
bush, who was chosen clerk of the. board, in the year 1716. 

" My loving Friends of this County See, 
That you hereby may Regulated Bee — 

Fear God and Keep the Law with Love of one accord 

And b^ Obdient to our Soveraigne Lord 



118 

Then you will meet with Men that Sees 

'J'hat Doth according to Law by Words and Deeds 

Imploy'd the same within your Port 

That is my advice now in short — " 

The school-house referred to in the agreements which 
we have presented, was located on a triangular lot of 
ground situated on the east side of the main street, di- 
rectly opposite to the old parsonage and present Consisto- 
ry Room, on the site now occupied by the store of Mr. 
Michael Schoonmaker & Son. There were three distinct 
buildings joined together, and evidently erected at differ- 
ent periods of time. The most eastern, which was pro- 
bably the first erected in the town, was built of stone, 
and stood about sixty feet from the street, being one story 
high. The second was composed of wood, more elevated 
than the first, having a steep roof in front, and a long 
sloping roof in the rear, reaching so near the ground as to 
admit of only a small window behind. The third was 
also a frame building, of more modern date, the gable 
end of which fronted the street, and stood on a line with 
it, but built in the same style as the last — the roofs exact- 
ly corresponding with each other, and although it was 
probably erected fifty years subsequently, still the same 
model was tenaciously adhered to. The whole fronted to 
the south, with the gable end, as we have said, to the 
road, having two rooms in front and two small rooms in 
the rear, and in more modern times the east end of the 
building served as a kitchen. The westerly front room 
was always used as the school-room, and the small room 
in the rear of it, (usually called the " prison," from the fact 
that unruly boys were occasionally confined in it,) was 
also used for school purposes, when the number of schoU 



119 

ars was too great to be accommondated in the front school- 
room. The residue of the building, with the kitchen and 
barn, was occupied by the schoolmaster and his family. The 
village school was kept in this building until about the 
year 1803. In the year 1805, the old school-house was 
sold to Bateman Lloyd, Esq., who took it down, and with 
the timber and other materials of it, built a store on his 
own premises, a few feet north of his dwelling-house. 
The building erected with these materials, continued to be 
kept as a dry-goods and grocery store, until the year 
1825, when it was removed and converted into a barn, 
now on the premises owned and occupied by Dr. Zabris- 
kie. After the school-house was removed, the lot on 
which it stood, laid in common for some time. During 
the last war with Great Britain, the government erected 
a gun house upon the north west angle of the lot, suffi- 
ciently large to hold two heavy field pieces. About the same 
time, the store now owned by Mr. Michael Schoonmaker, 
was built upon part of the premises, and in the year 1823, 
the present parsonage house was erected on the southern 
portion of it, which embraces all the ground commonly 
called the school lot. 

The first person who taught English, was P.etrus Van 
Steenburgh. He was schoolmaster from the year 1762, 
to 1773. At what time precisely he commenced teaching 
English we cannot tell. But he had at the same time, as 
well as his successor, pupils in both the Dutch and En- 
glish language. And as all the scholars were in the 
habit of speaking Dutch, it required some little manage- 
ment on the part of the worthy school-master to make his 
pupils who were learning English use that language en- 
tirely. His rule was that no scholar who was instructed 
in English should speak a Dutch word in school, and if 



120 

he did so he should be punished. In order to detect these 
persons, he had a pewter token about the size of a dollar, 
which was given to the one who first spoke a Dutch word 
after the school was opened. He gave it to the next one 
whom he heard speak Dutch, and so it passed from 
one to another ; but the boy in whose possession the token 
was found at the close of the school, appears to have been 
the scapegoat for the whole, for he was severely ferruled 
upon his hand by the faithful Petrus Van Steenburgh, who 
took great delight in finding the successful operation of his 
most ingenious device to detect the unhappy wight who 
spoke a Dutch word. 

The first select Classical school, which was opened in 
this town, was commenced by one John Copp. His school 
was held at first in a small house lately belonging to 
Judge Garrit Martense, which stood on the lot now occu- 
pied by Mr. Seymour, and which has been cut in two, and 
converted into barns and stables. From this he removed 
and taught in the south room of the house of Cornelius An- 
tonides. At what date he opened his school, cannot be as- 
certained with precision. An advertisement over his name 
is found in " the New- York Journal, or General Advertis- 
er," published by John Holt, under the date of July, 4th, 
1774. In this, he states, that " he has for sometime kept a 
grammar school in Flatbush." In this advertisement he 
"proposes" (to use his own words,) "to teach the Latin and 
Greek languages and Arithmetic in the correctest and best 
manner, besides reading, writing, and principles of English 
Grammar." His terms were $50 a year for boarding; and 
tuition not to exceed $lb yearly. He refers to the Rev. Dr. 
Cooper, President of Kings (now Columbia) College, to 
the Hon. William Axtell, who then resided in Flatbush, 
and to Andrew Elliott, Collector of His Majesty's Cus- 



m 

toms in New- York. He adds — " Dr. Cooper proposes to 
visit the school quarterly, when the scholars will be ex- 
amined." 

This school of Mr. Copp appears to have been well 
patronised. Many of the most respectable and influential 
inhabitants of New- York entrusted their children to his 
care. Henry Remsen, the late President of the Manhat- 
tan Company, was one of his scholars, besides many others. 
This school was broken up by the war of the American 
Revolution, and Mr. Copp afterwards joined the army. 

During the period of the struggle for American Inde- 
pendence, the school in Flatbush was taught by Mr. Gab- 
riel Ellison. He was an Englishman by birth, and was 
the first teacher who taught English exclusively. He 
had been a considerahle time among the Indians in Cana- 
da — and although a man of eccentric habits, was a good 
schoolmaster, in proof of v/hich, we may remark, that in 
addition to village scholars, he had many others from 
Brooklyn and other places. In order to entitle him to re- 
-ceive all the emoluments which his predecessors had en- 
joyed, it was indispensably necessary that he should 
acquire a knowledge of the Dutch, so as to enable him to 
perform the duties of sexton and chorister in that lan- 
guage. This he readily undertook, and although he 
committed many blunders in the onset, yet by diligence 
and perseverance, he overcome his many difficulties, and 
was soon fully inducted into the offices of sexton and 
chorister. These offices he held until he left the village 
school, about 1790, and performed them generally to the 
satisfaction of the inhabitants. 

Many incidents of quite an amusing character, are re- 
lated of him during his residence here. We will mention 

11 



122 

one or two. As s6xton, it was his duty to ring the bell 
and give alarms during the revolutionary war. The 
village was often disturbed during that period, and Mr. 
Ellison, from his office, and from his living near the 
church, usually warned the inhabitants by ringing the 
bell. On one occasion an alarm v/as sounded in the night 
time. Ellison not being able to find his small clothes, 
(for pantaloons were not known in those days,) seized his 
wife's calimanco petticoat, which he hastily drew on, and 
ran to the church, where he was found dressed in this 
style, pulling away like a lusty fellow at the bell rope. 
Such a sight must have put to flight all the fears of the 
inhabitants, and turned the scene of alarm into one of 
merriment. 

During part of the time that Ellison was chorister of 
the church, the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, was pastor of the 
church. The Domine was preaching on a certain occa- 
sion in the Dutch language, on the subject of the con- 
version of the Philippian Jailor, and as he was a man of 
somewhat eccentric habits, he made frequent digressions 
from his subject. During his discourse at this time, he 
said he would stake a wager that there was not one man 
in the church who knew the English of the Dutch word, 
" Stoohvaarder.^^ This bet was several times repeated 
by the Domine. At length Ellison, who in virtue of his 
office of chorister, occupied the front seat in the Deacons 
pew, thinking himself the best English scholar present, 
bawled out with a loud voice. " Jailor sir.^^ Mr. Van 
Sinderen feeling somewhat mortified at this unexpected 
reply, (for he wished to have given the answer himself,) 
looked down upon Ellison with some degree of scorn, and 
said to him, "you must never talk when I preach." 









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123 

Erasmus Hall. 

Not long after the peace, measures were taken for the 
founding a respectable Academy in the town of Flatbush. 
The projectors .of the enterprize were the Rev. Dr. John 
H. Livingston, who then residing in Flatbush, and Sena- 
tor John Vanderbilt. The latter was a man of s^reat pub- 
lic spirit, and of large and liberal views. He took an ac- 
tive part in accomplishing the noble design, and soon oh- 
tained the active co-operation of several other distinguish, 
ed persons. At length, in the year 1786, Jacob Lefferts, 
Joris Martense, Peter Lefferts, Johannes E. Lott, Corne- 
lius Vanderveer, John Vanderbilt, William B. Gifford, Pe- 
ter Cornell, Matthew Clarkson, Aquila Giles, John J. Van- 
derbilt and Garrit Martense, inhabitants of the town of 
Flatbush, associated together, and took the necessary 
measures, for the erection of a large and commodious 
building, for an academy. A subscription paper was ciu- 
culated in the village, and handed to some friends in the 
city of New- York, by which the sum of £915. was raised 
towards the object. This subscription is as follows. 

" Whereas, this county experiences the greatest incon- 
venience, from the want of a Public School being erected, 
in which, the English, Latin and Greek Languages, with 
other branches of learning, usual in Academies are taught, 
and considering the preceding regulations and proposals 
for erecting the same, in the township of Flatbush, highly 
beneficial and honorable to said county : We the under- 
written, agree to pay towards erecting the same, such sum 
as is annexed to our names, the one half on the first day of 
April next, the other half on the first day of August fol- 
lowing, and we further take the liberty to solicit from the 
friends of Literature, dn New-York, their encouragement, 



124 



to enable us to carry into execution this laudable attempt. 


Kings County, Flatbush, February 22d, 1786. 




(Signed,), 








John Vanderbilt, 


£100. 


Adriantie Voorhies, 


30. 


Peter Lefferts, 


60. 


Hendrick Suydam, 


25. 


John VanderbiUr 


50. 


William B. Gifford, 


20. 


Garrit Martense, 


50. 


Philip Nagel. 


15. 


M. Clarkson, 


50. 


Peter Cornell, 


15. 


Joris Martense, 


50. 


Johannes Waldron, 


5. 


Aa. Giles. 


50. 


George Clinton, for any 


Jacob Lefferts, 


50. 


place in Kings Co. 


15. 


Johannes E Lott, 


50. 


John Jay, 


15. 


Cornelius Vanderveer, 


50. 


Robert R. Livingston 


15. 


James Duane, 


15. 


John Sloss Hobart, 


5. 


Richard Varick. 


10. 


James Giles, 


5. 


Brockholst Livingston, 


10. 


John H. Livingston, 


5. 


Alexander Hamilton, 


10. 


Comfort Sands, 


20. 


William Duer, 


15. 


Samuel Franklin, 


10. 


Walter Rutherford 


10. 


Fraiitiis Childs, 


5. 


Carey Ludlow, 


10. 


Pvichard Piatt, 


10. 


Edward Livingston, 


10. 


W. Edgar, 


5. 


William Wilcocks, 


10. 


Sampson Fleming, 


5. 


D. C. Verplanck, 


• 10. 


Aaron Burr, 


10. 


Mc Coombe, 


10. 







During that year, 1786, the building which was one 
hundred feet in front, and thirty-six feet in depth, was erec- 
ted. We 'need not here give any particular description 
of it, as the inhabitants are all familiar with its appear- 
ance. The expense incurred in the completing of this 
edifice amounted to $6250. The money obtained by vo- 
luntary subscription, was first applied, but proved to be in- 
suflicient to defray the expenditures. The founders and 



125 

benefactors of the Institution then turned their attention to 
another source. There was at that time a considerable 
tract of land lying east of the village, belonging to the in- 
habitants of Flatbush, and held by them in common. This 
is what was called Twillers and Corlear Flats. The pro- 
prietors of the town held rights in these Flats, which were 
specified in their deeds, but no one could locate his par- 
ticular part. It was held in common, and hence consent 
was obtained for the sale and disposition of the same. The 
founders of the Academy held proportionate rights in these 
commons, and agreed that their respective proportions 
should be applied towards paying the debt they had con- 
tracted. These Flats, as we have heretofore stated, were 
sold at the rate of 816, an acre. The proceeds of the sale 
of Corlears Flats chiefly were devoted to the benefit of the 
Academy. The whole amount by which the Academy 
was benefited by this sale was about 81500. The resi- 
due of the amount of sales was divided among those inha- 
bitants of the town who would not relinquish their right in 
favor of the Academy. 

As things where now in a considerable state of 
forwardness, and the building ready for its intended 
purposes, the fouifders above named, the more fully 
to carry their designs into effect, did, on the 18th 
day of May, 1787, make application to the Board of Re- 
gents of the University of the State of New- York, that the 
Academy erected by them, might be incorporated by that 
Honorable Body, and become subject to their visitation. 
On the 20th, of November, 1787, a charter of incorpora- 
tion was granted to John Vanderbilt, Walter Minto, Peter 
Lefferts, Johannes E. Lott, Aquila Giles, Cornelius Van- 
derveer, George Marttnse, Jacob LefTerts, William B. Gif- 
ford, Hendrick Suydam, John J. Vanderbilt, Martinus 

11* 



126 

Schoonmaker, Philip Nagel, Peter Cornell, John H. Liv. 
ingston, James Wilson, Samuel Provost, John Mason and 
Comfort Sands, as Trustees of the said Academy, by the 
name and style of " The Trustees of Erasmus Hall, in 
Kings County." The name given to the Academy was in 
honor of Desiderius Erasmus, of Holland, the distinguish- 
ed patron of literature, in the 16th, Century. Only two 
academies had been incorporated by the Regents previous- 
ly to this, so that it is the third oldest Academy in the 
State. 

It may be proper to state, that James Wilson, Samuel 
Provost, John Mason and Comfort Sands, four of the Trus- 
tees named in the Charter of Incorporation, in consequence 
of not living in the town, never attended any of the meet- 
ings of the Board, and their places becoming vacant, the 
Rev. Peter Lowe, Garrit Martense, Peter Stryker and 
Cornelius Bergen were elected members of the Board. 

The seminary was, from its commencement, opposed by 
many of the inhabitants of Flatbush, who entertained a 
strong and decided attachment to the village school, and 
consequently their influence and means had a great ten- 
dency to retard the rise and progress of Erasmus Hall. 
Several amusing anecdotes might be told touching this. 
Some were disposed to ascribe all their misfortunes to the 
erection of the Academy. One worthy old gentleman, 
when unloading some bags, unfortunately slipped, and fell 
from his waggon. He rose greatly incensed, and cried 
out, " that Academy will never do." 

The Trustees of the Institution however, though labor- 
ing under a heavy debt, and incumbered by various diffi- 
culties, were assiduous in their duty. They devised a 
system of instruction, rules and regulations by which the 
Hall should be governed, and employed the ablest and 
best teachers in the different departments of instruction. 



127 

This last measure however, while it lessened the spirit of 
opposition, consumed the whole income of the institution, 
as all was annually expended in paying the salaries of 
these teachers and other expenses incidental to all literary 
establishments. The debt of the Hall, notwithstanding 
the most persevering exertions on the part of the Trustees, 
amounted still to $1,250. The Trustees by farther vo- 
luntary contributions, reduced somewhat this amount, so 
that on the 12th of September, 1789, it was $1,064.94. 
On the 17th day of June, 1794, application was made to 
the Trustees, for the purchase of the remaining part of the 
commons which had not been disposed of at the first sale. 
The proposals were accepted, and the conveyances ac- 
cordingly executed. With the money arising from this 
sale, the debt of the Hall was reduced to $900. In this 
situation it remained till the year 1808, when a donation 
of $100, was granted by the Regents of the University 
to the Trustees of Erasmus Hall, and the same was ap- 
plied, in conjunction with other exertions of the Trustees, 
towards discharging the debt, and on the 13th of May, 
1809, it was reduced to $668. It remained nearly at this 
amount, till the year 1825, when the debt was entirely 
liquidated. 

At a session of the General Synod of the Reformed 
Dutch Church, held at Albany, in June 1794, they resolv- 
ed to locate their Divinity Hall in Flatbush. Their pro- 
fessor of divinity, the Rev. Dr. Livingston, had previously 
resided here, and had given instruction to such students in 
theology as put themselves under his charge. It is to be 
regretted that the General Synod of the church ever re- 
moved their Theological School from this place, and lo- 
cated it in New-Jersey. Had it been continued in Flat- 
bush, Erasmus Hall would long ere this, have grown into 



128 

a flourishing college, under the auspices of the State of 
New- York, and the literary as well as theological inter- 
ests of the Reformed Dutch Church, have been prospered 
in a far higher degree than they have yet been. 

The Rev. John H. Livingston, D. D., who then resided 
during the summer seasons, in the house now owned by 
Dr. Vanderveer, was appointed the First Principal of the 
Hall. The office at that time, was chiefly honorary, as 
he performed no part of the instruction in the Academy, 
and so it continued to be as late as the year 1814. 
Mr. James Todd, was chosen the First Classical, and Jo- 
seph Turner, the First English teacher. Very shortly 
afterwards, John Gibson, Edward Shepherd, John Ter- 
hune, Albert Oblenis and Michael Schoonmaker, were 
employed in succession, as assistant teachers. In the 
year 1792, Mr. Todd resigned, and the Trustees appoint- 
ed Peter Wilson, afterwards known as Dr. Wilson, then 
Professor of Languages in Columbia College, the first or 
chief teacher in the Hall. During the period of the ad- 
ministration of this distinguished linguist, the Academy 
flourished rapidly. A large number of young men from 
the city of New-York, not only, but from Georgia, North 
and South Carolina, Virginia and the West-Indies were 
sent here to be educated, most of whom, boarded in the 
respective families of the town. Among these, some have 
been quite distinguished in the several professions, both 
in church and state. We may mention the following : 

William A. Duer, now President of Columbia College. 

John Duer, one of the revisers of the Revised Statutes 
of this state. 

John Berrian, late Attorney General of the United 
States, and now a member of the Senate. 

Henry Jackson, Secretary of Legation to France, 
under the Hon. Mr. Crawford. 



12^ 

George M. Troup, for several terms Governor of 
Georgia. 

John Hunter, now a member of the Senate of New- 
York. 

Rev. Jno. Blair Linn, the eloquent minister of the Re- 
formed Dutch Church, of New- York, and a distinguished 
American poet. 

Rev. Jno. H. Meyers, pastor of the church of Schenec- 
tady. 

Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker, D. D., pastor of the church 
of Jamaica. 

Rev. Peter Labagh, pastor of the church of Harlingen, 
New-Jersey. 

Rev. Peter Van Pelt, D.D. pastor of the church of West- 
chester. 

Rev. Philip Duryee, D. D., pastor of the church of 
English Neighborhood, N. J. 

Morris Miller, formerly member of Congress and First 
Judge of Oneida County. 

We might enlarge this list to a considerable extent, but 
we forbear. 

On the 28th of November, 1792, the Rev. Dr. Living- 
ston resigned the office of Principal of the Hall. His 
letter was received by the board, on the 5th of December 
in that year, and at a subsequent meeting held on the 8th 
of the same month, an answer was agreed upon, which 
reflects the highest credit upon the heads and hearts of the 
Trustees. In it a most flattering, but entirely just tribute, 
is paid to the general character of Dr. Livingston, and 
especially to his zealous efforts in behalf of the Academy. 

Teachers of suitable qualifications were from time to time 
employed, to assist in the instruction of the pupils in the 
English and French languages. These we need not enu- 
merate. On the 29th of June 1797, Dr. Wilson having 



130 

been again called to the professorship of languages in 
Columbia College, resigned his post as chief teacher in 
the Academy. He appears, however, to have retained 
nominally, the office of Principal, until December 14th, 
1804, and during this interval, attended the semi-annual 
examinations, exercised a watchfulness over the institu- 
tion, and lent his aid in the procuring of suitable teachers. 
At his resignation, in 1797, he presented to the Trustees, 
the sum of £25, to be appropriated towards defraying the 
debts of the Hall. Mr. Albert Oblenis, was appointed 
First teacher, in the place of Dr. Wilson. He continued 
his connection with the institution, until the year 1806. 
In the year 1797, an attempt was made on behalf of the 
Trustees to obtain from the Legislature of the State the 
privilege of raising the sum of £1,200 by Lottery, with 
the view of liquidating their debt. A similar effort was 
made in the year 1809, but no law was passed by the 
Legislature for the purpose, and the project was aban- 
doned. 

An arrangement having been effected by exchange of 
property, by which the Trustees of the Reformed Dutch 
Church of Flatbush came in possession of the lot of land 
on which the academy is erected, they, on the 29th day of 
December, in the year 1797, executed a lease of the 
same in perpetuity to the Trustees of Erasmus Hall, for 
a certain consideration, which is named in the instrument. 

Dr. Wilson finding it inconvenient to hold the office of 
Principal of the Hall, resigned the same in the year 1804. 
His letter of resignation was received at a meeting of the 
board, held February 9th, 1805, when his resignation was 
accepted, and the Rev. Peter Lowe appointed Principal. 
A most respectful letter was addressed to Dr. Wilson on 
the part of the Trustees, and their acknowledgments ten- 
dered to him for his faithful services in the institution. 



131 

A little previous to this, viz., in the year 1803, the vil- 
lage school was removed into the academy, and Mr. 
Patrick Noon the last schoolmaster who was employed in 
the old school house was discharged. From that time to 
the present, being a period of about thirty-nine years, the 
children of the village have been regularly taught in 
Erasmus Hall. 

The instruction in the Academy after the resignation 
of Dr. Wilson, continued to be conductpd by Messrs. 
Oblenis and Schoonmaker. The latter gentleman re- 
signed in 1805, and was succeeded by Mr. Richard Fish. 
Adrian Hegeman, Cornelius Van Cleef and John Wyckoff, 
were assistant teachers about the same period. In the 
month of Septiember, 1806, Mr. Oblenis resigned the office 
of First teacher. He was succeeded by Mr. Joab Cooper, 
who has since become extensively known as the editor of 
an edition of Virgil. He continued his connection with 
the Hall, for about two years; when upon his resigna- 
tion, Mr. Valentine Derry was appointed First teacher. 
In August 1809, Mr. Derry resigned, and was succeeded 
by Mr. Richard Whyte Thompson, who had charge of 
the institution for the next five years. Mr. Thompson 
was a man eminently qualified for this station. He was 
a thorough classical scholar, and possessed of eminent 
gifts for instruction. Under him the Academy rose again 
to considerable eminence, and many were taught by him 
who are now ornaments in the several professions. Dur- 
ing his connection with the Academy, a number of assis- 
tant teachers were in succession employed. They were 
John Brannon, Edward Cassidy, Ava Neal, Nicholas 
Morris, Adrian Hegeman, and some others. Mr. Thomp- 
son resigned his situation as First teacher, in December, 
1814. From this time forward, for a number of years, 



132 

there were numerous changes in this department. Wil- 
liam Thayre was appointed in December 1814. He was 
succeeded in 1815, by William Ironside. In 1816, Mr. 
Joab Cooper was again temporally employed ; and in 
1817, Mr. Andrew Craig took charge of the institution. 
Mr. Craig resigned his situation in June 1819, in conse- 
quence of the feeble state of his health. On accepting 
his resignation, the board adopted the following minute : 

'• In consequence of the high opinion entertained by the 
board in the talents and usefulness of Mr. Craig, as the 
able instructor of youth, and the valuable member of so- 
ciety, his resignation was accepted by the board with sen- 
timents of extreme regret." 

In August 1819, the Rev. Joseph Penney was chosen 
Principal of the Hall. He was associated with the Rev. 
John Mulligan. These gentlemen continued their con- 
nection with the Academy until the year 1821, when upon 
their I'esignation they were succeeded by the Rev. Timothy 
Clowes, D. D. He remained but about two years. 

In May 1823, the institution passed into the hands of Mr. 
Jonathan W. Kellogg, who continued to have charge of it 
till May 1834. During this period the Academy flourish- 
ed. A large number of pupils from abroad were board- 
ed in l!he Hall, and the Board of Trustees in 1825, were 
enabled to liquidate entirely the remains of the debt, un- 
der which the Academy had labored from its foundation. 
Upon his taking charge of the institution, Mr. Kellogg 
divided the English, or common school department, into 
male and female, and employed separate instructors for 
each. Previously to this, the boys and girls were asso- 
ciated in one room, and taught by one teacher. The se- 
paration introduced by Mr. Kellogg, and which was a very 
great improvement, has continued to this day. Not only 

r 



\ 



\ 



1S3 

separate and distinct apartments, but separate entrances 
have been provided for the males and females. The first 
Instructress under this new arrangement, was Miss Maria 
Jones. She was succeeded in 1829, by Miss Julia De 
Forest. She remained but about one year. Mrs. W. W. 
Maltby then taught for about six months, and was suc- 
ceeded in 1831, by Miss Almira Meach, who taught for two 
years. A short time previous to Mr. Kellogg's leaving the 
institution. Miss Rudd had charge of the female depart- 
ment, assisted by Miss Ely. The male assistants under Mr . 
Kellogg, were Jonathan B. Kidder, John Frey, Theodore 
Morrell, William Allgeo, William H. Campbell, Isaac 
Grier, J. W. Thompson, J. J. Prentice and' seme others. 
We need not specify the precise times, during which these 
gentlemen taught. Miss Geib, Miss Philomela Roila, 
Miss Emma Gillingham, and some others, were employ- 
ed in giving instruction in music. 

During the period in which Mr. Kellogg had charge of the 
Academy, many improvements were made to the building 
and grounds. In the former, in addition to a front piazza, a 
full suit of d^ormitories was finished in the attic, besides other 
important changes. The campus, which was bare of trees 
and shrubbery, excepting two rows of decaying poplars ex- 
tending in a diagonal direction, from the corners of the build- 
ing to the road, was greatly improved. The heart, which 
lies in front of the entrance, was laid out and planted with 
flowers and shrubs. Besides the Balm of Gilead, in 
the centre of the heart, many ornamental forest trees, con- 
sisting of the tulip, the button ball and the sugar maple, 
together with a line of flowering shrubs, all around the 
front and sides, were set out. In addition to these, a row 
of button-ball trees was planted on the front walk. All 

12 



184 

these are now in a flourishing condition, and have added 
very greatly to the appearance of the Hall. 

In the winter of 1826-7, an additional wing, of fifty feet 
in depth and twenty-five in width, was added to the main 
building, for the accommodation of the schools. The cost 
of this was #1500, but in the course of about four or five 
years, this new debt was also paid. In May, 1834, the 
Rev. William H. Campbell, who had opened a select 
school in the village the previous year, took charge of the 
Institution. Though his superior qualifications as a teach- 
er are well known, it is due to him, to say that while he 
gave the highest satisfaction to his employers, he infused 
a desire in the bosoms of parents in the village, to give 
their children a liberal education, to a degree that had ne- 
ver before existed. During his connection with the Aca- 
demy, the standard of education in the town was much 
raised. In consequence of feeling that it was his duty to 
return to the ministry, which he had been forced to leave, 
in consequence of impaired health, he resigned his office 
as Principal of the Hall, and left it in the spring of 1839. 

He had employed, as his assistants, John W. Thompson, 
James Campbell, C. B. Raymond, John Mc Alpin, John 
Skellie, Mark Hopkins Beecher, Jacob Gillet, Ambrose 
Leet ; and as instructresses in the female department An- 
na F. Vose and Laura Mc Elwaine. 

On the 20th, of January, 1835, the Regents of the 
University determined to establish a department for the 
instruction of common school teachers in Erasmus Hall, 
in conformity with the provisions of an act of the Legisla- 
ture, which had passed the previous session, which autho- 
rised the Regents to endow a department of this character, 
in some one academy in each of the eight senatorial dis- 



135 

tricts of the State. Erasmus Hall was chosen for the 
Southern District. The Trustees on the 10th, of Februa- 
ry, 1835, agreed to accept the trust, and made all the ne- 
cessary arrangements to carry out the views of the Legis- 
lature and of the Regents. It was soon found however, 
that in consequence of the high price of boarding in and 
about the city of New- York, the department would not be 
furnished with pupils. Only one or two applications were 
made, and the Trustees perceiving that it would be imprac- 
ticable to maintain snob a department, with any degree of 
success, in the Southern District, did, on the 31st, of De- 
cember, 1836, resign the trust ; upon which, the Re^-ents 
transferred the department for this district to the Salem 
Academy in Washington County. Mr. Campbell was 
succeeded as Principal, in May, 1839, by the Rev. Dr. 
Penney, late Pi'esident of Hamilton College. He however 
continued in the Institution, as classical teacher for nine 
months longer. In addition to him. Dr. Penney employed 
Mr. Beecher, Mr. Rowle, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Willis and 
Mr. StoothofF. The females were taught chiefly by Miss 
Mc Ilwaine and Miss Palmer. Dr. Penney continued in 
charge of the Hall until November, 1841, when James 
Ferguson, A. M. the present worthy incumbent, entered 
upon his duties, whose character and assistants are well 
known. 

Attached to Erasmus Hall, is a library, philosophical 
and chemical apparatus, and a mineralogical cabinet. 
The latter is not large, but yet contains a goodly variety 
of specimens. The apparatus, both philosophical and 
chemical, is not in a very good state of repair. Some of 
the articles are comparatively new, and in good order. 
But the greater part are quite old and need to be replaced 
by others. The library has gradually increased until it 



136 

has attained a very respectable size. It was commenced 
together with the philosophical apparatus, by a liberal do- 
nation from the board of Regents of the University of the 
State, in the year 1791. By the prudent andjefficient ma- 
nagement of the Trustees, the library has been fostered 
and gradually enlarged, until at present it numbers fif- 
teen hundred and thirty-four volumes, and is the second 
academical library in size in the State. It is in general also 
well selected. It contains most of the standard authors in 
English Literature, and for history, will compare with 
any library of its size in the country. It affords not only 
the means of recreation to the pupils, but of sound and use- 
ful knowledge. The whole arrangements of the Hall, in- 
deed, are now such, and have in fact almost always been 
as to furnish to all who are connected with it, the opportu- 
nity of obtaining a good, substantial education, sufficient 
indeed, to give the promise of high standing to those who 
may engage in any of the learned professions, and of use- 
fulness and respectability, to such as may pursue the ordi- 
nary avocations of life. It is unquestionably an institu- 
tion of pre-eminent value to the village, and in fact, to all 
the surrounding country. We trust it will ever continue 
to flourish as one of the brightest ornaments of the town, 
and be a healthful fountain from which shall flow forth 
many streams to fertilize and bless both the churcii and 
the State. 

Since the establishment of the Academy, several private 
schools have from time to time been set up in the village. 
Some of these were of a high classical character, and 
were for a season flourishing. But we need not now enu- 
merate them. 

Connected with the literary history of the town, it is 
proper to state that about the year 1807, a very large print- 
ing-office was established in the village, by Mr. Isaac 



137 

Riley. This was located in the present elegant lawn of 
Matthew Clarkson, Esq. The edifice was planned by- 
Pope, the celebrated architect, and was put up at great 
cost. The establishment of Mr. Riley was very exten- 
sive. In connection with his printing-office he had a 
large bindery, at the head of which was Mr. James 01m- 
stead. The printing department was superintended by Mr. 
Charles Wiley. In conducting the whole establishment, 
a large number of hands, male and female, were employed. 
It continued in operation for about seven years. The house 
was subsequently taken down, removed to Brooklyn, and 
rebuilt on the Heights opposite the city of New- York, 
where it is still standing. 

Some men of high literary attainment have been edu- 
cated in this place, and the remains of Richard Alsop one 
of the poets of America, lie entombed in the public ceme- 
tei-y. None of the inhabitants of the town, however, have 
devoted themselves exclusively to literary pursuits, and 
of course we cannot boast of any distinguished author. It 
is due to the memory of Mr. Alsop that we state the cir- 
cumstances of his death in this place. He came to Flat- 
bush in August 1815, to visit his sister, the wife of Mr. 
Riley. He had retired on a certain day to his room in 
the house now occupied by Mrs. Schoonmaker, and was 
subsequently found dead sitting in a chair by the window. 
It is presumed he had been struck with apoplexy. The 
tomb-stone which marks the place where his remains lie 
interred, bears the following inscription : — " In memory 
of Richard Alsop, Esq., of Middletown, Conn. Distin- 
guished by genius and poetical talents, respected for in- 
tegrity, and beloved for his amiable simplicity of charac- 
ter. He died suddenly, when on a visit to this place, on 
the 20th of August, 1815, aged fifty-four years." 

12* 



EVENTS DURING 

THE 

REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 



We would now turn back your attention to the era of 
the great struggle for American Independence. As the 
battle of Long-Island, which was the first contest in 
which the two great armies met, occurred in and about 
Flatbush, and as from that period it was the scene of 
more or less interest during the revolutionary war, it is 
proper that we should devote a separate space to this part 
of the history of the town. 

After the commencement of hostilities in the year 1776, 
the city of New- York in consideration of the advantages 
which from its location it would afford, was selected by 
the British as the first grand point to be obtained. The 
city was then in the possession of the Americans, under 
the command of General Washington, in person. In the 
latter part of June, 1776, the first division of the British 
army landed on Staten-Island, and was followed about 
the middle of July, by the grand armament under Lord 
Howe, consisting of six ships of the line, 'thirty frigates 
with smaller vessels, and a great number of transports, vic- 
tuallers and ships with stores of ordnance. Lord Howe 
at that time, first attempted by what he conceived to be 
conciliatory measures, to bring back the American Colo- 



139 

nies to their allegiance to King George. We need not 
detail these, as they are not immediately connected with 
our subject. We cannot, however, omit to notice, that on 
the 14th of July, he sent a flag to New- York, with a let- 
ter under the superscription of " George Washington, 
Esq.," Indignant that Lord Howe had not recognised 
his rank and title and his connection with the American 
Congress, Washington, very properly, refused to receive 
the letter, for which he was applauded by Congress as an 
act of becoming dignity^ On the 20th of July, Lord 
Howe attempted a second time to open a correspondence 
with General Washington. He sent another letter by the 
hands of Adjutant General Patterson, addressed to 
" George Washington, &;c. &c. &;c." The General 
treated the Adjutant with all politeness, but notwithstand- 
ing all he could say, Washington refused to receive the 
letter, telling him, " it is true the et ceteras imply every 
thing, but it is no less true, they imply any thing." A 
noble answer to this repeated insult to himself and his 
country, and a clear presage of the practical wisdom, 
courage and firmness of him to whom America, under 
God. had committed her cause. 

Not knowing at what point the British might make 
their first attack, Washington sought to fortify the city 
and obstruct the passage into the harbor of New- York. 
Fie also threw up certain fortifications in Brooklyn and 
Flatbush, to guard the approach to the city, by Long- 
Island. His army at this time, amounted to 17,225, of 
whom only 10,514, were fit for duty. These too, he says, 
in one of his letters, were little other than raw troops, and 
much scattered, some being fifteen miles apart. It soon 
became evident that the British meditated a landing on 
Long-Island. Troops were accordingly thrown over from 



140 

the city of New- York, and extended in different posts 
from the highlands near the Narrows, to Wallaboght Bay. 
The command of all these posts had been entrusted to 
General Greene, who had studiously made himself ac- 
quainted with the location of all the surrounding country, 
so as to be able to defend the American army not only, 
but take all advantages which the various defiles would 
afford to attack the British. But unfortunately only a few 
days before the battle, General Greene was taken very 
sick, and the command devolved on General Putnam, who 
although one of the bravest of the brave, was not suffi- 
ciently acquainted with the face of the country. Put- 
nam had two brigadiers under him. General Sullivan, 
who had command of the troops not immediately within 
the lines, and General Lord Stirling, who was stationed 
in and about Gowanus Bay and the Narrows. To pre- 
vent property falling into the hands of the British, an 
order was issued commanding the farmers on the west end 
of Long-Island, to drive away their cattle and take their 
grain which had just been harvested, from their barns and 
stack it in the fields, that it might be the more readily 
destroyed. Accordingly, all the cattle in Flatbush and 
the towns adjacent, were driven first as far east as the 
woods, in and about New-Lots, and subsequently into 
Queens County. Some of these were recovered, but 
great numbers of them were lost ; the American Govern- 
ment, however, made honorable reparation for all such 
losses. The grain also, in conformity with the order, 
was taken out of the barns and put on stacks. Some of 
these were subsequently set on fire by the American 
army on their retreat, to prevent their falling into the 
hands of the British ; but a few of these stacks of grain 
were saved, particularly those in the southern section of 
the village. 



141 

An entrenchment was thrown up in Flatbush across 
the road leading through the village, a little south of the 
present residence of Judge Martense. It was in the form 
of something like a half moonj lying diagonally across 
the road, and extending on the land of Lefferts Martense 
on the west, and of Isaac Cortelyou on the east — having 
a ditch of sufficient depth on the north. A small redoubt 
on which a few pieces of artillery were mounted, was 
also put up at the Valley-Grove, to guard the passage 
through the port road, and by the direct route to Brooklyn. 
Here stood a large white oak tree, mentioned in the pa- 
tent of Governor Dongan, as one of the boundary lines of 
the town of Flatbush. This was cut down and thrown 
across the road ; and in consequence of the then dense 
woods on the south, and the swamp on the north, it formed 
a very considerable abattis. The late Mr. Simon Voris 
assisted in cutting down this tree. 

During this time, preparations were making by the 
British, to effect a landing on Long-Island. They were 
frequently visited by persons from the shore and surround- 
ing towns, who no doubt gave them every information con- 
cerning the positions of the American army, and furnish- 
ed materials for a draft of the whole adjacent country ; for 
they were well acquainted with the position of the hills, and 
the three roads or defiles by which they could be passed. 
On the 22d day of August, a landing was effected by the 
British troops at Bath, under cover of the guns of their 
fleet, without opposition. Gen. Howe established his head- 
quarters at New-Utrecht. The American troops who 
were stationed along the coast, consisting of a regiment 
of Pennsylvanians under Col. Hand, retired to Flatbush, 
with the view of guarding the principal pass to Brooklyn. 
Lord Cornwallis pushed on immediately with the reserve 



142 

and some other forces to the same place, but finding the 
Americans strongly entrenched, and the pass through by 
the port or Valley Grove defended, in compliance with 
his orders he did not risk any attack. In the meantime 
the inhabitants of the town had generally forsaken it. We 
who have been so long accustomed to the sweets of peace 
know but little of the consternation occasioned by an ap- 
proaching invading army. The inhabitants had reason to 
apprehend that should they remain at home they would 
be cruelly treated, and perhaps massacred. They were 
regarded as rebels, to whom but little quarter would be 
shown. Hence as expeditiously as possible after the 
landing of the British troops, the inhabitants of the village 
either sent or carried off the females and children, pro- 
viding them with what littl-e furniture and conveniences 
they could. Some were sent to New-Jersey, but the 
greater proportion took refuge in Queens County. It was 
a scene of great confusion^ and of no ordinary distress. 
Compelled to leave their homes and the greater part of their 
property, and not knowing what might befal their persons 
or their families, they committed themselves to the good 
providence of their God. Some had not gone far before they 
saw the smoke ascending from the neighborhood of their 
farms, and knew not but their dwellings were already in 
flames. With one family, indeed, this was the case. The 
American riflemen, on the approach of the British towards 
the evening of the 22d, set fire to many of the stacks of grain, 
particularly in the northern part of the iown, and also 
fired the house of Peter Lefferts. Other houses in that 
section of the village were also burnt, but not at that time, 
of which we shall presently speak. 

The main body of the American troops stationed in about 
Flatbush, then retired to the woods on the north of the town. 



143 

The British army then under command of LordCornwallis, 
took post at Flatbush. They encamped in a diagonal direc- 
tion across the village. Their tents extended from the little 
lane over the farms of Hendrick Vanderveer, of J. C. 
Bergen, of Jacobus Vandeventer, and so on, in a north- 
easterly line towards the road leading to New-Lots. The 
main body however, were on the south of the church and 
west of the main street. They soon possessed themselves 
of the intrenchment which had been thrown up by the 
Americans, in the north of the village. To defend them- 
selves against an expected attack from the American 
troops, who, from the woods, kept up a scattered firing, they 
knocked out large port holes in the house of Adrian He- 
geman, which stood on the spot where Mrs. Cynthia Lef- 
ferts is now living. This house was built of stone, and the 
object of making the holes in the wall, was to enable them 
to fire their cannon at the Americans under cover. The 
house of Mr. Lefferts Martense, on the opposite side of the 
road, was also taken possession of, and prepared as a sort 
of fortification. It was built of wood, fronting south, and 
having a roof on the north side, which extended to within a 
few feet of the ground. In this roof they cut many holes, 
through which they could discharge their muskets. Still 
farther to defend themselves, or rather to render their fir- 
ing upon the Americans more effective, they set fire to the 
houses which stood between them and the woods, and from 
behind which, often the American riflemen would dis- 
charge their guns, to the no small annoyance and injury 
of the British. These houses were those of Jeremiah Van- 
derbilt and LefFert Lefferts, on the west, and Evert Hege- 
man, on the east side of the road. On what day these were 
burnt we know not, but they were destroyed by the Bri- 
tish, probably on the second or third day after their encamp- 
ment in this place. 



144 

On the first or second evening of their arrival in 
Flatbush, a drunken revel took place among the Bri- 
tish. In rifling the houses, they were directed by John 
Rubel, to a quantity of wine, which had been left in the 
house of Mr. David Clarkson, who lived in the dwelling 
now occupied by Mr. J. C. Bergen. Mr. Clarkson was a 
strong whig, and after they had vented their spite at him, 
and his principles, by destroying his furniture, and abusing 
his premises in a shameful manner, their attention was 
called, under the direction of their guide, to his wines. 
These, the greater part of which were specially imported 
and were very choice, Mr. Clarkson had bottled and 
stored away in an upper apartment, in the wing of his 
house, and had built up a partition to conceal them. Rubel 
had seen this, and was well acquainted with the store thus 
concealed, and being friendly to the British cause, he gave 
them information of the fact, and actually guided and as- 
sisted them on the occasion. The wine and other liquor 
was of course procured, and the officers and men indulged 
freely in the use of it. The back piazza and yard of Mr. 
Clarkson's house, exhibited a complete drunken frolic. 
Had the Americans indeed been awa!l'e of the situation of 
the British at this time, a very serious check might have 
been put to their advance, if not their whole plan sub- 
verted. 

The Hessian troops under General de Heister, having 
landed on the 25th, were sent forward on the same day to 
Flatbush, to compose the centre of the army. The plan 
of attack was now fixed. The right wing of the English 
army was committed to Major General Grant, and was 
designed to operate against the left wing of the Americans, 
under Lord Stirling. The centre was committed to Gen- 
eral de Heister, and was to attempt the pass defended by 



145 

General Sullivan, at the Port, while the left wing of the 
British under General Clinton and Lords Percy and Corn- 
wallis, were, by a circuitous route to reach the right wing 
of the American army, which was under command of 
Colonel Miles, and stationed a little to the eastward of Bed- 
ford, on the Jamaica road. The principal hope of success 
was u\yDn this wing. The plan was well laid, and proved 
successful. It was, that while General Grant and the 
Hessians of General De Heister should disquiet and divert 
the Americans on the right and in the centre, the left wing 
should surprise them by a circuitous route, and thus fall 
upon them in the flank and rear. The English hoped that 
as this post was the most distant from the centre of the ar- 
my, the advanced guards would there be found more fee- 
ble, and perhaps more negligent, and that at all events, 
they would not be able to defend themselves against a 
force so superior, as this right wingof the English, was very 
numerous and entirely composed of select troops. Nor did 
they judge incorrectly. In order to put this plan thus 
wisely formed, into execution, on the evening of the 26th, 
of August, about 9 o'clock. General Clinton commanding 
the van guard, which consisted of light infantry : Lord 
Percy the centre, where were found the grenadiers, the 
artillery and cavalry, and Lord Cornwallis the rear 
guard, followed by the baggage, some regiments of infan- 
try and of heavy artillery, moved from Flatbush, with ad- 
mirable silence and order towards Flatlands. They were 
seen by Captain Cornelius Venderveer, who stated, that 
although h» was near the fence fronting his house, on the 
road, he could scarcely hear them. With such silence 
and order did this large body of men move, being covered 
by the darkness of the night. They were on this occasion 
aided by certain guides, who conducted them till they reach- 

13 



146 

ed the point of attack. These were N******* w*********, 
J**** ^******^ Q^jrid J******* j^*****^ j|. j^g^g been said 

in defence of the conduct of these persons, that they were 
forced to act in this capacity, and that their lives were at 
stake. This may all be, but their agency on this occa- 
sion was most disastrous to the American cause. The 
British had as we have intimated, drafts of the country. 
They marched to Flatlands village, then took the road 
leading to Flatlands neck, and came out at Shoemakers 
Bridge. Here N. W. their chief guide at this place, was 
expressly cautioned, that if he led them wrong he would 
be shot. He appears to have conducted them from this 
spot across the fields to what is now called Howard's. 
They arrived two hours before day, on the morning of the 
27th, within half a mile of the Jamaica road. Colonel 
Miles, of Pennsylvania, who had charge of the right 
wing of the American army this night, performed his ser- 
vice with but little exactness, and did not perceive the 
approach of the enemy. They had marched several 
miles, and were now in fact two miles in the rear of his 
guard, without his being knowing to the fact. Nor had 
General Sullivan, who had charge of all the troops in ad- 
vance of the camp at Brooklyn, any advice of what was 
passing in this quarter. One of his patrols, on horseback 
had been fallen in with by General Clinton during the 
night, and made prisoners. But though disappointed in 
not hearing from this patrol. General Sullivan neglected 
to send out fresh scouts, probably expecting that the En- 
glish would direct their principal efforts against the right 
wing, under Lord Sterling, as that was nearest to their 
head quarters. Thus he suffered the American army to 
be surprised, and almost before the battle commenced, the 
fate pf the day determined. General Clinton having hal- 



147 

ted for a few hours, and refreshed his troops, and learning 
from the prisoners whom he took, that the road to Jamai- 
ca was not guarded, hastened to avail himself of the cir- 
cumstance, and occupied it by a rapid movement. With- 
out loss of time, he immediately bore to his left, towards 
Bedford, and seized an important defile, which the Ameri- 
cans had left unguarded. From this moment the success 
of the day was decided in favor of the English. Lord 
Percy came up with his corps, and the entire column de- 
scended by the village of Bedford, into the more level 
ground, which lay between the hills and the camp of the 
Americans. 

In the mean time. General Grant, in order to divert the 
Americans from the events which took place upon the 
route through Flatlands, and the attack to be made on 
their left wing, endeavored to disquiet them on his right. 
Accordingly, about midnight, as if he meant to force his 
way through, he put himself in motion and attacked the 
militia of New-York and Pennsylvania, who were station- 
ed along the Gowanus road. They at first gave way, 
but General Parsons, who had command of them, having 
arrived, and having occupied an eminence, renewed the 
combat, and maintained his position until Brigadier Gene- 
ral Lord Stirling came to his assistance with fifteen hun- 
dred men. The action was extremely animated, and 
victory favored neither the one side nor the other. But it 
was all in vain, as in fact, the choice of the British army 
were already in the rear of the American troops on the 
left. As soon as firing was heard from the right wing of 
the English, under General Clinton, who, as we have sta- 
ted, had now gained possession of Bedford, which was not 
long after the break of day, on the 27^th, General De 
Heister with his Hessian troops, moved forward with the 



148 

centre of the army from Flatbush, and commenced an at- 
tack upon the Hne in command of General Sullivan. The 
attack was valiantly sustained by General Sullivan, in 
person, but they soon found that their situation was very 
critical, for General Clinton fell upon their left flank, and 
they now discovered to their great surprise, that they were 
in fact surrounded by the enemy. As soon as they were 
apprised of their danger, they sounded a retreat, and retir- 
ed in good order towards their camp, bringing off their ar- 
tillery. But the royal troops, under General Clinton, who 
occupied the ground on their rear, charged them furious- 
ly. They were compelled to throw themselves back in- 
to the neighboring woods, lying between Flatbush and 
Brooklyn. Here they met again with the Hessians, who 
repulsed them upon the English, and thus they were driv- 
en several times by the one against the other, with great 
loss. They continued for some time in this desperate 
situation, till at length, several regiments animated by an 
heroic valor, opened their way through the midst of the en- 
emy, and gained the camp of General Putnam, at Brook- 
lyn : some few escaped through the woods, but the re- 
mainder, together with their commander. General Sulli- 
van, were made prisoners. 

The left wing and centre of the Americans being dis- 
comfited, the English, to secure a complete victory, made 
a rapid movement against the rear of the right wing, 
which in ignorance of what had befallen the other corps, 
was engaged with General Grant. As soon as they re- 
ceived the intelligence of this disaster, they retired. But 
now they encountered the English, who had cut off their 
retreat. They had been engaged from 8 o'clock in the 
morning, until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in maintaining 
their post and charging the enemy. On ascertaining their 



149 

perilous situation, they were greatly disconcerted. Some 
of these brave men betook themselves to the woods. But 
a large number of them endeavored to make their way 
to the camp at Brooklyn, through the marshes and mill- 
ponds of Gowanus Cove. Unfortunately many of them 
were here drowned or perished in the mud : a very small 
number only escaped the hot pursuit of the victors, and 
reached the camp in safety. Lord Stirling himself, who 
had charge of this wing, was taken prisoner. Almost the 
entire regiment of Maryland, under Colonel Smallwood, 
consisting of young men of the best families in that pro- 
vince, was cut to pieces. No less than two hundred and fifty 
nine men of this regiment were destroyed. 

The fate of the battle wa^ now decided. The total loss 
of the Americans in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
according to Dr. Gordon, was about fifteen hundred, 
but some have estimated the loss as high as three 
thousand. Among the prisoners, besides the two Gene- 
rals whom we have mentioned, were many officers of high 
rank. The unfortunate issue of this battle, was doubtless 
to be ascribed in part to the illness of General Greene. 
He had superintended the erection of the works, and was 
thoroughly acquainted with the ground. In hope of his 
recovery. General Washington had deferred sending ovfer 
a successor, till the urgency of afiairs rendered it abso- 
lutely necessary, and then General Putnam took the com- 
mand, without any previous knowledge of the posts be- 
yond the lines which had been fortified, or of the passes 
by which the enemy could make their approach. Nor 
had he the time to acquire this knowledge before the ac- 
tion. Had General Greene been on the ground, all the 
roads or passes would have been so secured and defended 
as that the royal army in attempting or gaining them, 

13* 



150 

would have been so crippled as to have been arrested with 
regard to all future successful operations. General Sulli- 
van was also too inattentive and confident. He exercised no 
watchfulness over the tories and royalists, who were 
around him, but sutTered them to go back and forth as they 
pleased. One of the American Chaplains, fearing that 
the British would make a circuitous march and take to the 
Jamaica road, asked him whether he had sufficiently 
guarded that pass, when Sullivan replied, in his vain con- 
fidence, " Yes : so that an angel cannot force it ;" ajid yet 
to his neglect in this particular, the whole disasters of the 
day are to be attributed. 

The British after this victory encamped in front of the 
American lines, and on the 28th, and 29th, frequent skir- 
mishes occurred between the two armies. At lencrth, on 
the 29th, Washington, at the suggestion of General Mif- 
flin, who had been on Long-Island, and knew the situa- 
tion of the troops, called a council of war, and a retreat 
was agreed upon. General Mifflin offering to command 
the rear. This was a wise council, inasmuch, as in front 
of the army was a numerous and victorious enemy, with a 
formidable train of artillery. The British fleet indicated 
an intention to pass up the East River, and cut off all hope 
of a retreat. The troops at Brooklyn were lying without 
shelter from heavy rains, and were moreover, fatigued and 
dispirited. This difUcult movement was effected with 
great skill and judgment, and with complete success. 
We should be glad had we time, to narrate all the circum- 
stances connected with it. But we can only give a very 
general account of it. After dark, on the evening of the 
29th, orders were received and communicated to the several 
regiments, to hold themselves in readiness for an attack 
upon the enemy, to take place in the course of the night. 



151 

This excited much speculation among the officers, who 
knew not the immediate design, and no little concern 
among the soldiers, whose arms were much injured from 
exposure to the rain. The embarkation of the troops was 
committed to General Mc Dougal. It was to commence 
at 8 o'clock, in the evening, but a strong north east wind 
and a rapid tide, caused a delay of several hours. At 
11 o'clock, the wind sprung up from the south west, which 
greatly favoured the enterprize, as it enabled them to use 
the sail boats, which they had, as well as the barges. Pro- 
vidence further interposed in favor of the retreating army, 
by sending a thick fog about 2 o'clock in the morning, 
(August 30th,) which hung over Long-Island, while on 
New- York side, it was clear. The fog and wind contin- 
ued to favor the retreat till the whole army, nine thousand 
in number, with all the field artillery, such heavy ord- 
nance as was of most value, ammunition, provisions, hor- 
ses, cattle, &;c, were safely over. The water was so re- 
markably smooth as to admit of the row boats being load- 
ed within a few inches of the gunnel. General Wash- 
ington, though often entreated, would not leave the Island 
till General M ifHin with his covering party, left the lines 
at about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 30th. The se- 
crecy and skill, with which the whole movement was ef- 
fected, may be conceived, from the fact that the enemy 
were so nigh, that the sound of their pickaxes and shovels 
were distinctly heard by the Americans. Only about 
half an hour after ^the lines were finally abandoned, the 
fog cleared off, and the British were seen taking posses- 
sion of the American works. Four boats were on the ri- 
ver, three halfway over, full of troops : the fourth, within 
reach of the enemies fire from the shore, was compelled to 
return. But she had only three men in her, who had tar- 



152 

ried behind to plunder. The whole army was safely 
landed on the north side of the river, and never was there 
a retreat better conducted, or a more signal interposition 
of a kind providence. Had not the wind changed, not 
more than half of the army could possibly have crossed, 
and the remainder must have fallen, with all the artille- 
ry and stores, into the hands of the Efiglish. And had it 
not been for the fog, their movements would all have been 
discovered in time, greatly to have discomfited them. 

But we must now return to Flatbush, Here, after the 
battle, were many American prisoners. Lord Cornwallis 
appears to have established himself for a little while at 
least, in the place. Among the prisoners taken previous to, 
and during the battle, was Cornelius Venderveer,the father 
of the present John C. Vanderveer, Esq. He was the cap- 
tain of the militia of the town of Flatbush. Having sent off 
his family to New- Jersey, he attempted to secure his furni- 
ture, while he remained in and about his premises. He 
had hid his arms and accoutrements in a thicket, near the 
house, and having observed on a certain evening how the 
guards and pickets of the British were placed, he went in 
the dead of the night, accompanied by a faithful servant, 
called Adam, to regain them. They approached the 
place where they were concealed, by a circuitous route, 
and having possessed himself of his arms, he put them on, 
the more easily to carry them. He then proposed to his 
colored man, to take a nearer and more direct route 
back. But in doing so, he came unexpectedly upon a 
guard, which had been placed after dark, in a position of 
which he was not aware. The consequence was, that he 
was made a prisoner, and being taken with his accoutre- 
ments on, and his arms in his hands, he had not much 
mercy to expect. He was carried to the captain of the 



153 

guard. Here he was told by several, that there was no 
hope for him, he must be hung, and they actually put the 
rope around his neck. In the morning he was taken to 
the church, before Lord Cornwallis, who sent him with 
some others, under guard to New-Utrecht, where he was 
confined in a barn, with a number of other prisoners. 
Here he was in various ways basely treated and insulted. 
But while there, a Captain Miller, with whom he had been 
on terms of intimacy, happened to pass by, and inquired 
of him how he came there, and after being informed of his 
case, he said he would try and effect his release. A few 
minutes after, a file of soldiers came and took him before 
one of General Howe's Aids, by the name of Cuyler, who 
was from Albany, who inquired and questioned him about 
his situation. He asked him if he would take a protection 
and go home on his farm. Captain Vanderveer answer- 
ed that he would, provided they would not compel him to 
fight against his country. Cuyler replied, with an oath, 
that they had fighting men enough, but as he had promis- 
ed him a protection, he would give him one. He present- 
ed it to him accordingly, and said he might go to the re- 
bels again, for what he cared. Captain Vanderveer took 
the protection and remained on his farm, but v/as abused 
and robbed by the Hessians, who paid no respect to his 
protection, and took the last shirt he had from his back, so 
that he was compelled to walk about with an old great 
coat, which he found, to cover his nakedness, until he 
could get other clothes. His faithful colored man Adam, 
continued with him all the while. 

Flatbush was now in the hands of the British, and con. 
tinned within their lines until the close of the war. During 
the short tarry of the army in the village, they committed 
many depredations. They pillaged the houses and des- 



154 



troyed as much property as they well could. It was sad 
indeed to the inhabitants to witness this on re-visiting their 
homes. As soon as the British had taken possession of 
New- York, and the army had left the Island, the inhabi- 
tants of Flatbush began to return. Some were absent on- 
ly a few days, but others did not reach their homes until 
nearly mid-winter. The scene presented to the view of 
those who came back soon after the battle, was distress- 
ing indeed. The place where the encampment had been, 
was strewed with feathers, straw, papers and pieces of 
furniture, which had been taken from the houses. In the 
street, which was grown over with high grass, in conse- 
quence of the frequent rains, which occurred at that tim*e, 
and the interruption of nearly all travelling, were to be 
seen, in addition other things, skins of hogs, which had 
been slain, and heads of cattle, with their horns on them, 
presenting a frightful picture of the haste and waste which 
had characterized the army. On visiting their houses, 
they found the greater part of their furniture broken and 
almost everything valuable about their premises injured. 
So wanton had been the waste, that feather beds had not 
only been ripped up, and the contents scattered, but in 
some instances the feathers had been emptied into wells. 
The best rooms in the houses had been used as stables for 
the horses, while the drawers in their cupboards and bureaus 
had served as mangers and feeding troughs. As we may 
well suppose, the whole town exhibited a scene of wide 
spread desolation. 

On their return the males were obliged to take the oath 
of allegiance to the British crown. This most of them did. 
It was administered in the church. It may be here asked, 
why did they not join the American army and fight in be- 
half of the country. The answer to this question is found 



155 

in the fact, that all their property — their families and their 
homes were in the hands of the British. By returning 
and submitting to their authority, they would be able 
to preserve these from destruction ; whereas, had they 
connected themselves with the American army, no doubt 
every thing they had on the earth would have been swept 
from them, a sacrifice which we believe few, if any, made 
during that eventful struggle. But we are not to sup- 
pose that there were no friends of the American cause at 
that time, and during the war, in Flatbush. We shall 
presently see that in a most important way they aided in 
achieving our national independence. 

After the battle on Long-Island, the church and the old 
school-house were used for the accommodation of the pri- 
soners and the sick. Three private houses were also em- 
ployed as hospitals. The house now occupied by Mr. J. C. 
Bergen, the house belonging to the heirs of Cornelius An- 
tonides, and the dwelling of Mr. Rem Vanderbilt. In this 
latter house, in which Mr. Seymour now resides, and which 
then stood on the opposite side of the road, the wounded 
American officers were brought. The principal hospital 
for the soldiers was the old school-house. Many of these 
wounded prisoners appear soon to have died ; for when 
one individual returned, who was absent but thirteen 
days, she counted twenty-eight new graves in the church- 
yard, and it is probable that most of these contained more 
than one body. 

After the capture of Fort Washington, which took place 
in November of this same year, (1776,) a great number 
more prisoners were brought to Flatbush, and billetted on 
the inhabitants. It is supposed that no less than four 
hundred were kept in the southern towns of Kings County. 



156 

The only regiment left in Flatbush after the battle, was 
42d Regiment of Highlanders. They however soon re- 
moved, and were succeeded by a guard of fifty men 
under Lieut. Dalrymple. These continued for some 
time, when upon their removal. Col. Axtell, who resided 
in the house now owned by Mr. Mowatt, and who was a 
violent Tory, collected a company called the Nassau 
Blues. The command of this was committed to his ne- 
phew Capt. Depeyster. They appear to have been taken 
from the lowest ranks, and were mostly persons of bad 
moral character. Col. Axtell wished that they should be 
united with the militia of the town, but the militia opposed 
it, and would by no means give their consent to such a 
measure. These Nassau Blues, from their low and gen- 
erally miserable appearance, were nicknamed by the in- 
habitants the " Nasty Blues." They were not billetted 
upon the town, but had possession chiefly of the court- 
house. Of so bad a character were they, that in their 
blasphemy, they called themselves " the Holy Ghosters." 

After the return of the inhabitants of Flatbush to their 
houses, in the fall of 1776, an epidemic broke out among 
them, arising as was supposed from the effluvia connected 
with the Hessian and British encampment, and which in 
consequence was called the camp-fever. It seized great 
numbers, and proved fatal to many ; and among others, 
to some of the most respectable and influential persons in 
the town. 

We should be glad to furnish a list of all the American 
prisoners who v/ere billetted in Flatbush during the war, 
particularly the names of the officers, but this is impos- 
sible. Among the latter were Gen. Silliman, Col. Raw- 
lings, Col. Magaw, Col. Miles, Col. Atlee, Col. (after- 



157 

wards Gen.) Williams, Col. Barby, Capts. Fitzhugh 
Randolph, Bailey, Biles, Patton, the subsequent Post- 
master of Philadelphia, and a number of others. Bui 
we cannot forbear a special notice of Major David Lenox. 
He was billetted upon Mr. Bateman Lloyd. During his 
residence as a prisoner, he was visited by his brothers 
Robert and William, with a view to bring him to abandon 
the American cause. They tried every motive, and 
pressed him by considerations the most tender. The in- 
terview was had under the large linden-tree near the 
house. On their leaving him, he was met by the present 
Mrs. Lloyd, who observing him to be bathed in tears, 
asked what was the cause of his distress. He told her 
that his brothers had been endeavoring to prevail with 
him to forsake the Americans and join the British. But 
said he with Roman firmness, " I will never do it." 

The circumstances which led to the removal of Major 
Lenox from Flatbush, show his noble daring and firmness, 
and at the same time the spirit of oppression which distin- 
guished the officers of the British army. The news of 
the capture of Burgoyne in 1777, having reached the 
American prisoners paroled on Long-Island, Major James 
Hamilton and Dr. Stewart repaired to Flatbush to cele- 
brate together with Major Lenox an event so propitious 
to the cause of their country, and so congenial to their best 
hopes and most sanguine wishes. The night was passed 
at the festive board, but their conduct was in no way cal- 
culated to offend ; no extravagant symptom of exultation 
was shown, for bolstering mirth would have degraded a feel- 
ing of delight, silent but sincere. In the morning, a fish-car 
filled with shad, passing through the village. Major Lenox 
asked the proprietor if he would sell a part of his load : " not 

14 



158 

to a rebel scoundrel," he replied, " though he be starving." 
The offensive answer was no sooner given than resented. 
Major Lenox struck the speaker to the earth. A fray was 
the immediate consequence, in which the American offi- 
cers, as might have been expected, were overpowered and 
severely beaten. But this was not the last of their suffer- 
ings. Charged with an assault and conducted upon the 
testimony of their adversary, before General Pigot, Ma- 
jor Lenox, in a plain unvarnished representation of facts, 
stated the provocation, and asked " if it were possible to 
have withheld punishment from a rascal, who so wanton- 
ly sought and so richly deserved it." " It is our busi- 
ness," replied the General, " to protect and cherish such 
of your countrymen as seek our protection. You must 
submit therefore to ask pardon for the outrage committed, 
or take the consequences that must inevitably follow." 
" Ask pardon of that scoundrel," said Lenox, "never" ! 
" Will you, sir," said the General to Hamilton : " May I 
perish if I do," was the reply. The question Mas then 
put to Dr. Steward, and answered with equal indignation., 
" You must be introduced then" said the irritated Gene- 
ral, " to the Provost Marshall. Mr. Cunningham, they 
are your prisoners, you know your duty." Six months 
of close and rigorous confinement in the Provost, (a place 
of misery, second only to the celebrated prison ship, Jer- 
sey,) was the consequence of an act, that a generous ene- 
my would not only have thought just, but commendable. 
The American prisoners had the liberty of all the 
southern towjis. They were required to report them- 
selves at certain times and places. When the French 
fleet, under Count De Estaing was expected, and when af- 
ter their arrival they laid off the shore, these prisoners 



159 

went daily to the top of Vanderbilts hill, to view them. 
And with regard to this hill, we may remark, in passing, 
that General Clinton, once rode down it so rapidly, that 
his Aids could not follow him. 

Among the prisoners in the county was Capt. William 
Marriner. He was quartered on parole, at Mr. Rem Van 
Pelt's, at New-Utrecht. In the exercise of his privilege, 
he often visited Flatbush. Dr. Van Buren's tavern, the 
house now occupied by Duryee Wiggins, was a place of 
great resort. Here he met among others, with the lead- 
ing tories in the place. These were Colonel Axtell, Co- 
lonel Matthews, the Mayor of New-York, Major Sher- 
brook, Mr. Beach and Major Moncrief. On one occasion, 
probably in consequence of the too free use of his sarcas- 
tic wit, he was insulted and ill treated by this clan, par- 
ticularly by Major Moncrief. After Captain Marriner's 
exchange, in 1780, he determined to visit Flatbush, and 
capture, if possible, all these abusive tories, who were ve- 
ry obnoxious to the American officers. He was a brave 
and daring man. For the purpose of carrying his design 
into[execution, he repaired to New-Brunswick, and procu- 
red a whaleboat, which he manned with twenty two vo- 
lunteers. With this he crossed the bay, and landed at 
Bath, about half-past nine o'clock in the evening. He 
made prisoners of three black men, who were fishing, and 
then leaving two persons in charge of his boat, he march- 
ed off with the rest of his party towards Flatbush. On 
his way, he stopped at the house of Rem Van Pelt, his old 
quarters, and also at his fathers', in consequence of 
which, these persons were afterwards apprehended and 
confined in Provost, in New- York, on suspicion of being 
concerned with him. Marriner reached the Flatbush 
church without molestation. Here he divided his men into 



160 

four squads, assigning a house to each. Each party had a 
heavy post, for the purpose of breaking in the doors. The 
village was all silence. The houses were all known, and 
it was agreed, that when the party detached for Colonel 
Axtell, whose dwelling was farthest from the church, 
struck his door, each party should do the same at the other 
houses. Captain Marriner selected the house of George 
Martense, the father of the present Mrs. Catin, where his 
friend Major Moncrief quartered for himself. Time was 
given for the parties to arrive at their several houses, and 
then, at the concerted signal, the doors were all burst 
open, nearly at the same time. The first stroke at the 
door where Major Moncrief resided, alarmed him, and he 
fled to, the garret, and hid himself behind the chimney. 
" I entered his room," says Marriner, " and finding his bed 
warm, I ordered aunt Jannetie to bring a candle. We 
ran to the garret and found our prize shivering behind the 
large Dutch chimney, with his breeches in his hands. 
We took him to the church, our place of rendezvous, 
where we put on his smallclothes." Mr. or Major Beach, 
who resided in the house lately vacated by Mr. Michael 
Schoonmaker, was also seized, as well as Colonel Sher- 
brook, who lived in the old house belonging to Garret Mar- 
tense, Esq. which stood in front of Mr. Seymour's, and has 
been divided as we have heretofore stated, and made into 
two small barns. But Colonel Axtell and Colonel Mat- 
thews, the mayor of New-York, who resided in the house 
belonging to Jacobus Vandeventer, which stood where the 
dwelling of Judge Lott now stands, escaped, in conse- 
quence of their being that night in New- York. The se- 
veral parties having assembled again at the church, they 
marched off with their prisoners, unmolested to their boat* 



161 

although it was a fine moon-light night, in the middle of 
summer. In his account of the matter, Captain Marri- 
ner says, that Dom. Rubell rung the alarm bell, before 
we were half a mile from the church, and Dr. Van Samp- 
er, who lived at Mr. Martense's, sung out, " Goedt luck, 
Goedt luck : not me, not me." The spirits called from 
their sleep by the alarm bell, did not pui-sue Captain 
Marriner, and he arrived safe at his boat, and carried his 
distinguished prisoners to New-Brunswick. Time will 
not permit us to pursue this affair farther, and give an ac- 
count of the taking up and imprisoning of certain persons 
in New-Utrecht, on suspicion of being connected with 
Marriner in the enterprize*. 

The inhabitants of Flatbush during the war, particu- 
larly those who were supposed to be in favor of th-e Ame- 
rican cause were subject to a variety of exactions from 
the British authorities. Their property too was often sto- 
len, cattle were taken from the fields, hogs from their 
pens, and horses from their stalls. The hen roosts were 
frequently robbed, and almost every kind of plundering 
and thieving committed. When horses were wanted by 
the British for any service, they were seized without ce- 
remony. On one occasion, Colonel L***, of Flatlands, 
attempted to take the horses of Captain Vanderveer, while 
he was ploughing with them in the field. The Captain 



* In the account heretofore pubhshcd of this incident, the name of 
Major Moncricf does not appear, while Colonel Sherbrook is repre- 
sented as the principal object of capture by Marriner. But this is incor- 
rect. It was Major Moncrief who had principally insulted him, and 
he was the person whom he desired chiefly to take. The account 
given above, contains the true statement of the whole affair. 

14* 



162 

refused to give up his horses, and showed his protection, 
and orders from Captain Dalrymple. This so disconcert- 
ed the Colonel, that he was quite enraged, and in a violent 
manner exclaimed, " You, Flatbushers are always med- 
dling." He went then and seized the horses of Judge 
Lott and of Judge Vanderbilt, who had no protection. 

During the greater part of the war, a guard was kept 
up in the village. For a considerable time this was done 
by the militia of the town. The object was, not so much 
to watch the prisoners, as to detect sailors and stragglers, 
who would leave their vessels off the beach and come 
through the village, on their way to New- York, for the 
purpose of escaping being taken by the press-gang, who 
were coasting on the waters, in and about the city. The 
guard detailed for duty consisted usually of seven, of 
'whom two were sent out on patrol. Several amusing 
anecdotes occurred relative to this guard, but we have 
not room to narrate them. 

In 1781, a regiment of new recruits, under Colonel 
Hewlett, raised chiefly in Queens County, came to Flatbush 
and were billetted on the inhabitants. After these, a re- 
giment who had been taken prisoners in the West-Indies, 
from Waldack in Germany, commanded by Colonel De 
Horn, were sent to the place, and billetted upon the inha- 
bitants to a certain extent. They were obliged to find 
them quarters, but not provisions. The officers had their 
own rooms, and the soldiers generally occupied the kitch- 
ens of the houses. This regiment behaved well ; no de- 
predations were committed by them. We cannot refrain 
from giving an account of one of them. His name was 
Raymond. He was desirous of joining the American 
army ; for this purpose he deserted, and at great risk, got 



163 

on board of an American merchant ship, — unfortunately 
for poor Raymond, this ship was soon captured by the 
British, and the deserter was sent back to Flatbush to his 
regiment. A court-martial was held upon his case, and 
he was sentenced to pass through the gantlet, as it was 
called, ten times, and each time to be whipped. He was 
prepared with bare back accordingly, and the regiment 
being arranged in open file, poor Raymond passed with a 
file of soldiers before him to prevent his going faster than 
such a gate, through the long line, while every man on 
either side was required to give him a cut with a whip. 
At the end of each turn, a sei'geant passed through the 
line with a fresh supply of whips, and every soldier drew 
from the bunch a new rod, with which more severely to 
punish Raymond This was enacted ten times — and one 
would have supposed that at the end of it, Raymond would 
have fallen down dead. His back, as might have been sup- 
posed, was dreadfully lacerated, almost every whip drawing 
blood ; but as if by a miracle, the poor fellow survived, 
and eventually got well. But all this whipping did not 
drive out of him a love to the American cause. He de- 
termined again to desert ; but before doing so, wished to 
revenge himself by killing his Colonel. But his asso- 
ciates would not agree with him in this undertaking. He 
however, with some few others, eventually deserted and 
got safely within the American lines, and on visiting 
Philadelphia and making his story known, he was treated 
with such signal attention, as almost to compensate him 
for his past trials and sufferings. 

Among others who were billetted in Flatbush, were the 
soldiers who had fought in Canada, in the French war. 
Of these nothing particular is told. For accommodating 



164 

these, as well as the regiment of the Waldeckers, no 
compensation was allowed to the inhabitants. Among the 
many troops belonging to the Biitish, who from time to 
time were in Flatbush, many were desirous of going over 
to the American army, and several desertions took place. 
Among others, a Captain Lyman of Boston. He became 
involved in debt and sold his commission in the British 
service. He was soon greatly reduced in his circumstan- 
ces, and had to sleep in the open air under the stacks. 
The American prisoners hearing of his situation, made a 
collection for him — had a suit of coating made for him at 
the house of Captain Cornelius Vanderveer, and furnished 
him with means to escape beyond the British lines. He 
travelled safely towards the east end of the island, passed 
over to Connecticut, and eventually joined the Americans. 
Near the close of the war, a Saxon regiment, who were 
dressed in French clothing, came to Flatbush, and were 
quartered upon the inhabitants. Many of these, and in 
fact the whole regiment, was desirous of going over to the 
American army. One of the soldiers who was billetted 
at Captain Vanderveer's, came to the present J. C. Van- 
derveer, Esq. one morning very early, before he had left 
his bed, and told him their wishes, and offered him money 
if he w^ould pilot them. Mr. Vanderveer told him of the 
entire impracticability of the enterprize, on account of 
the distance of the American lines, and the waters which 
they would have to cross. He was induced in conse- 
quence of this, to leave him. But next morning he 
brought one of his officers to Mr. Vanderveer, who told the 
same story — that the whole regiment were ready to join 
the Americans, and pressed him to guide them. He told 
them again that the matter was utterly impossible ; that 



165 

if they attempted it, there was no escaping detection and 
death, and accordingly they desisted. But the soldier 
and some others did attempt to desert, and were taken and 
put on board a man-of-war. After a short time, the 
whole regiment was removed. The incident is interest- 
ing and important, as showing how popular the cause of 
the Americans was, even with many who were brought 
here to fight against them. 



AID AFFORDED 

TO THE 

AMERICAN CAUSE DURING THE WAR OF THE 
REVOLUTION. 



We now open an interesting chapter in the History of 
Flatbush. It relates to the pecuniary aid afforded by this, 
in common with some of the other towns in Kings County, 
to the advancemeixt of the American cause, during the 
struggle which eventuated in our independence. While 
from the circumstances in which the inhabitants of this 
part of the country were placed, they could not personally 
enlist in the army without sacrificing their all ; many of 
them furnished money, appropriately called the sinews 
of war, with which to carry on the contest. This, in view 
of the situation of the country at various times during the 
revolutionary conflict, was exceedingly important. The 
currency of the country consisted chiefly in continental 
paper. This had become so much depreciated, that it 
was of little value, and it was absolutely essential to the 
success of the American cause, that specie should be ob- 
tained. It was therefore contrived to borrow money for 
the use of the army, from the whigs, on the west end of 
Long-Island, who had in their possession large sums of 



167 

gold and silvef. The agent in effecting these loans, was 
Major Hendrick WyckoiF. He was the only son of Mr. Cor- 
nelius Wyckoff, of New-Lots, in this town. His father was 
a staunch whig, and his son the Major, early enlisted with 
all his heart, in the cause of his country. He left Long- 
Island with the American army, in September, 1776, and 
remained in the service, and virtually an exile from his 
home, till the British left the country, in 1783. He was a 
confidential friend of Governor George Clinton, and a brave 
discreet and enterprising officer, a man of sterling integrity 
and honesty. His country's enemies were his enemies, 
and her friends his friends. Being well acquainted with 
the inhabitants of the west end of Long-Island, and who 
among them were true friends of American Independence, 
after the plan of obtaining money from them was sugges- 
ted, the execution of it was committed to him. 

The loaning of money appears to have originated with 
Lieutenant Samuel Dodge, who was taken prisoner at 
Fort Montgomery, in October, 1777. The officers who 
were captured in the Fort at that time, were brought to 
New- York, and distributed on parole in Kings County. 
Lieutenant Dodge and Captain Gilleland, were quartered 
at the house of Mr. Barent Johnson, the father of the present 
General Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn. He was ex- 
changed in the early part of the following November. 
On his return, Mr. Johnson, who was a firm and devoted 
whig, loaned him a small sum of money, and probably 
suggested the idea of obtaining specie in Kings County. 
Colonel Ellison, who was a prisoner in New-Utrecht, on 
parole, was advised on the subject, and when he was ex- 
changed in December, 1777, he obtained a loan of £700, 
to the State from Mr. Barent Johnson, which he carried 
with him. This was the first loan, for which a simple 



168 

private receipt on account was given. Several receipts 
of the like import, amounting to 85000, were taken by 
Mr. Johnson before his death in 1782, a noble testimony 
to his devotedness to the interests of his country. 

The practicability of obtaining money in King County 
being thus manifest, the whole conducting of the affair 
was intrusted to Major WyckofF. It was an enterprize 
attended with imminent danger, and one which required 
great skill and secrecy in its execution. The plan usual- 
ly pursued by the Major, was to cross the sound from Con- 
necticut, and conceal himself at Cow Neck. The house 
in which he was usually secreted, was that of Peter On- 
derdonk, a warm friend of the American cause. He was 
entrusted by Governor Clinton, with blank notes, signed 
by him, which the Major was to fill up to certain indivi- 
duals, for such sums as he received from them. He had 
his agents in this part of Kings County, who obtained mo- 
ney for him, and took it to him. Judge Cowenhoven of 
New-Utrecht, the father-in-law, of Mrs. Catin, was one of 
these. He carried to the Major, the chief part of the mo- 
ney raised for this object, in Flatbush. Major WyckofT 
would occasionally venture himself within the British 
lines. He visited his father's house in New-Lots, and in 
the winter of the year 1780, he was several days at the 
house of Mr. Remsen, at the Wallaboght, in sight of the 
prison ship, Jersey. In the evening they rode out, when 
Mr. Remsen would borrow money, with which they would 
return at night. In the day they would count it on a 
blanket, and bag it. When the Major had as much as it 
was safe to take, Mr. Remsen took him and the cash to 
Mr. Onderdonk's, at Cow Neck. In effecting this service 
for his country. Major WyckofT ran many risks of his life". 
On one occasion he was concealed for two or more days 



169 

and nights in a thicket of briar bushes, from which he 
could see the men wlio were in pursuit of him. 

The amount of money loaned to the State by the whig 
inhabitants of Flatbush cannot be fully ascertained. We 
should be glad to name all who thus favored their coun- 
try's cause, but strange to say, no record of these trans- 
actions has been made or preserved. We can only men- 
tion such as have come to our knowledge, without design- 
ing to cast any reflection upon others. The mother of the 
present old Mrs. Lefferts advanced £500, equal to $1250. 
On one occasion, when counting out the money to the 
person who was about to take it to Major WyckofF, a Bri- 
tish officer entered the house, and she came near being 
discovered and apprehended. Captain Cornelius Van- 
derveer and Judge Lott, united in advancing on a certain 
occasion, a sum of money. What the precise amount was 
we know not. But they received the simple note signed 
by Governor Clinton. To preserve this voucher, they en- 
closed it in a bottle. This being well corked, they buri- 
ed it under one of the post of Mr. Vanderveer's barn. At 
the close of the war, they dug up the bottle, but on open- 
ing it they found that all the writing on the note was ob- 
literated, except the signature of George Clinton. When 
the State repaid these loans, this note among others, was 
presented. The Governor inquired into the cause of its 
being so defaced, and at first hesitated to honor it. But on 
being told the circumstances connected with it, he hono- 
rably discharged it. 

Mr. George Martense, the father of Mrs. Catin, probably 
advanced the largest amount of money of any individual 
ip the town. He loaned first and last, £2200, equal to 
$5500. This was the more commendable on his part, as 

15 



170 

he was regarded by the British as favorable to them. He 
had not fled when they entered the town, and they injured 
no part of his property. At his house too, the British offi- 
cers often visited, and Major Moncrief had his quarters. 
All these sums were given in specie, and when the loans, 
after the revolution were paid, it was in the same currency. 
When Mr. George Martense went for his money, he took 
a cart, it is said, and the silver completely filled it. 

The process of loaning money continued till the peace.. 
Many timid whigs ventured as the prospects of the coun- 
try brightened, and loaned their money. They knew the 
purpose and the danger in aiding the American cause. 
To tell was death. A combination in what was esteem- 
ed treasonable acts, bound them strongly together. 

It is supposed that before the war terminated, not far 
from 8200,000, in specie, had been loaned and carried 
out of the British lines, by this devoted band. And what 
is remarkable, not a single person who aided in this busi- 
ness was discovered. It is to be regretted, that a public 
record of these transactions, so honorable to the whigs of 
Kings County, is not in existence. " I have searched," 
says General Johnson, in a communication to the author, 
" the records and public papers, of the war, at Albany, 
but no entries of this matter can be found." 

Major Wyckoff* after the peace engaged in mercantile 
business, with Judge Smith (also an exile) under the firm 
of Smith and Wyckoff*, New- York. He died in the year 
1791, at his fathers' house in New-Lots, being about fifty 
years of age. His funeral was attended by a large con- 
course of people, desirous of paying their last respects to 
a man, who had braved danger and difficulty, in the ser- 
vice of his country. Among these, were the military offi- 



171 

cers of the city of New- York, and his personal friend, 
George' Clinton, the Governor of the State. 

At the close of the war, a liberty pole was erected in 
Flatbush. It was near the spot where the present one 
stands. The occasion was one of great joy and hilarity. 
Materials for the flag having been procured, a party of 
ladies assembled at the house of Mr. John C. Vanderveer, 
for the purpose of making it. Several young persons 
gathered together in the evening, and much dancing and 
merriment were indulged in. But it was interrupted by 
a sensation of an earthquake, which was then very strong- 
ly felt. The flag however, duly formed, with its stripes 
and stars was completed and a time was set for the putting 
up of the pole and displaying for the first time in Flatbush, 
the American signal. A large concourse assembled on 
the occasion. It was celebrated with the firing of cannon, 
and other demonstrations of joy. An unfortunate acci- 
dent occurred, however, which greatly marred the plea- 
sure of the scene. Mr. Henry Van Beuren, the brother 
of Courtland Van Beuren, the father of the present Mrs. 
Hasbrook, was severely wounded. He was engaged in 
ramming down a charge in the cannon, when from some 
cause the piece discharged itself. The ramrod was driv- 
en with great violence from the cannon, and severely la- 
cerated the hand and arm of poor Van Beuren, and also 
passed along his thigh and laid open the flesh almost 
through its whole extent. The wound was a very dan- 
gerous one, and it was feared at the time, that it would 
prove fatal. He however, after a very long confinement 
finally recovered. 

The evening of the day on which the liberty pole was 
erected, was spent in festivity. A large public ball was 



172 

held, the company using for the occasion the court room, 
from which the British officers had previously removed the 
seats and benches, to render it suitable for similar amuse- 
ments on their part ; little dreaming that they whom they 
reorarded as dastardly rebels, would use these accommoda- 
tions to celebrate, in the same place the achievement of 
their independence from foreign oppression. 



^- 







7»««K»Ww«S<5l«6' r f ^ ^*' 4S^ 5^ 







MODERN CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS. 



During the period immediately succeeding the termina- 
tion of the revolutionary war, no very material events 
took place in Flatbush, except the building of the Acade- 
my, the Church and the Court House, all of which we 
have already noticed. But presently the attention of the 
inhabitants was directed to their side walks and front fences. 
The first fences in front of the farms, were formed of stone, 
surmounted with earth, on which were planted shoots of 
primrose. These were kept properly trimmed, and when 
in full growth were very handsome. Lining the village, 
almost entirely on both sides, they presented a very pictu- 
resque appearance. This was the case about seventy or 
eighty years ago, and had been so, for probably a century 
before. But from some cause, either the severity of the 
winter weather, or the ravages of an insect, these prims 
all died in one season. Some then took down the stone 
foot and substituted ordinary posts and rails. This how- 
ever, had but an unsightly aspect. Picket fences were 
then resorted to. In front of two farms these had been put 
up previously to the war, viz : by Colonel Axtell and Mr. 
David Clarkson. One after another of the inhabitants 
substituted these in the place ofthe old stone fence, or the 
posts and rails which had been used. And now there is 
one continued picket or panel fence on both sides of the 

15* 



174 

village from one end to the other. The last link in this 
chain was completed some four or five years ago. 

Locust trees were formerly planted on the side walks 
of the village. Some of these, perhaps seventy-five or 
one hundred year of age, were standing not many years 
since. The last of them stood in front of the premises oc- 
cupied by Dr. Vanderveer, and Mr. John C. Bergen, and 
were removed when these gentlemen regulated and form- 
ed their side walks. Some few of the more modern of 
these locust trees are still standing before the property 
now in the possession of the widow Gertrude Stryker, on 
the walk of Matthew Clarkson, Esq. and in front of the 
jiouse belonging to the heirs of Cornelius Antonides. As 
these trees decayed, which occurred between thirty and 
forty years ago, they were succeeded by the Lombardy 
poplar. Quite a spirit existed in the place in favor of this 
tree. They were planted in great numbers, on either 
side of the road, and when they had attained their full 
growth, they presented certainly a very beautiful appear- 
ance. It was at this time, about the year 1815, that the 
author first knew the village. These trees, on either 
side, gave it the aspect of a spacious avenue, or a beauti- 
ful vista, indicative of the comfort, peace and prosperity 
which generally reigned within the village. It was soon 
found, however, that these trees were infested with a 
loathesome worm, that they gave but little shade, and 
were not durable. The proprietors generally, removed 
them, and none are now left standing, except in front of 
the dwelling of L. L. Van Kleeck, Esq. Some planted lo- 
cust trees again in the place of these poplars. But these 
were found to be attacked with worms, and not to grow 
with rapidity, or beauty. Since this a great variety of or- 
namental forest trees have been set out, which we need not 



175 

enumerate. In this connection, we must speak of four ve- 
nerable trees, three of which are still in existence. These 
were English Lindens. One of them is now standing in 
front of Mrs. Catin's, another on the corner of Dr. Zabris- 
kie's, and the third, on the opposite corner, in front of the 
house of Mr. Michael Neefus. These were planted very 
many years ago. The two last particularly, affording a 
fine shade, were often resorted to by the neighbors, in the 
summer season. Many a social pipe, and happy hour 
have been enjoyed under them. The fourth of these vene- 
rable trees, stood in front of the house which was taken 
down to make room for the present dwelling of Judge 
John A. Lott. This tree was very large, and very highly 
prized. About the period of the American Revolution, a 
limb of this tree, from some cause, became broken, and 
Colonel Matthews, the Mayor of the City of New-York, 
who then lived on the premises, had it leaded up, and it 
grew again. But after a while it was split again by the 
wind. x\nd he actually sent to New- York for riggers, 
who bound it up with ropes, and" so preserved it. On one 
occasion the court of the county sat under this tree. It 
was in consequence of the large number of persons attend- 
ing, who could not be accommodated in the court house. 
The regulating of the side walks in the village was 
commenced about fifteen years ago, by M. Clarkson, Esq. 
At a very considerable expense he levelled and gravelled 
his walk, and put up a railing in front. Small pieces of 
railing before a few doors had been made previously, but 
none extended in front of the whole premises. The be- 
nefit and the beauty of this improvement were soon seen, 
and several others followed the example, so that now we 
have a regulated walk through the greater part of the vil- 
lage, and a railing or chain in many cases in addition. 



176 

Soon after the close of the war of the American Revolu- 
tion several new houses were put up, some in the place of 
those that had been burnt, and some on the sites of other 
old dwellings, which were pulled down. Within the last 
few years, several beautiful and spacious dwellings have 
been erected, and nearly all the houses which were stand- 
ing during the Revolutionary war are removed. We 
have not space to specify all these buildings, which com- 
bine the elegance and conveniences of modern improve- 
ment. David Johnson, Esq. erected the first, about fif- 
teen years since, when he moved to the village, and put 
up the noble edifice in which he resides. Matthew Clark- 
son, Esq. a few years afterwards built the magnificent 
mansion which now adorns his property, and in which he 
lives. The old wretched building formerly owned by Mr. 
Van Courtlandt has been succeeded by the two beautiful 
houses now occupied by Mr.. Prince and Mr. Crommelin. 
The very ancient house of LefFert Martense, has given 
place to the stately edifice of Judge G. L. Martense. In- 
stead of the small uncouth dwelling which formerly stood 
upon the very edge of the road, we have the spacious 
house now inhabited by Mr. Seymour, with its Grecian 
front, and the comfortable dwelling in which Mr, St. John 
resides. The old brick structure belonging to the Stryker 
family, which but a few years ago, stood near the corner, 
venerable for its age, and bearing upon its front, the figures 
1696, has been removed, to make room for the modest, but 
neat cottage of Mrs. Gertrude Stryker. The long gloomy 
looking, but time honored house of Barent Van Deventer, 
has given place to the commodious edifice of Judge John 
A. Lott. In the room of the unsightly and delapidated hovel 
of Mr. Jacobus Van Deventer, with its large duck pond, and 
falling fences, we have Vernon avenue, and the nice and 









^ ^-wi^vy Higp M'txi ' 




177 

tasty building in which Mr. Beekman resides. The old house 
of Hendrick Vanderveer, has been succeeded by the hand- 
some, well finished and convenient dwelling of Mr. Sam- 
uel G. Lott. And though the last, not the least, in the 
north of the village, Mr. Willink has erected the splendid 
mansion, into which he has recently removed, together with 
its beautiful barn and stables, surmounted with a cupalo, 
all of which, he has enclosed with a costly panel fence. 
In addition to these, to some other houses Grecian fronts 
have been added, and various improvements made, which 
give to the whole village an air of beauty, pleasantness, 
richness and comfort, which are surpassed by but few 
others. A distinguished gentleman of Pittsburgh, Penn- 
sylvania,* on his first visit to the place, called it a village 
of palaces. Besides these more conspicuous houses, ma- 
ny more have been put up in various parts of the village, 
some of which too, are beautiful and neat. Quite a con- 
siderable settlement has grown up, a little east of the Aca- 
demy, and also one in the. north of the village, on which 
spots a few years ago, not a house was to be seen. Indeed 
within the past twelve or fifteen years, more than sixty 
new buildings have been put up, besides those which have 
been erected in the place of old ones, which have been re- 
moved. 

It no doubt will appear strange to some, that a village 
so contiguous to the great emporium of our country, and 
combining the advantages of health and means of educa- 
tion, with the absence of many temptations to the young 
should not have grown with more rapidity. But the rea- 
son is to be found in the fact that until within a very few 
years, not a building lot could be purchased in the town. 

* Hon, Robert C. Grier, 



178 

The owners of property, living in comfort, and gradually- 
adding to their estates, felt no inducement to part with their 
lands. But of late, some few farms have been purchased, 
and Flatbush property is now in the market. Had the 
village been laid out regularly in streets and building lots, 
some thirty or forty years ago, it would we have no doubt 
by this time have rivalled some of our largest inland 
towns. But notwithstanding the present aspect of neat- 
ness and comfort, which it presents, it is susceptible of still 
greater improvements. These we trust, will in due time, 
be made, and the village become, what it is capable of be- 
ing made, the pride and beauty of Long-Island. 

We had intended to give some account of the genealo- 
gy of most of the older families of Flatbush. Materials 
to a very considerable extent have been collected with 
this view, but as they are not sufficiently full, especially 
in regard to some families, we deem it proper to waive this 
part of our subject. 

■ From a review of the history of their little home which 
we have taken, truly the inhabitants of Flatbush have 
abundant cause to admire the goodness of that God who in 
his benign providence has smiled so graciously and so con- 
stantly upon them. Their cup has overflowed with 
blessings, and still the same mercy of the Lord is crown- 
ing their families with peace. With adoring gratitude let 
us lift up our hearts to his throne and with fulness of love 
to him let us show the fervor of our thankfulness by lives 
devoted to his glory. Committing to his guardian care, the 
interests of our village, and praying his blessings to rest 
upon it, let us aim to make it as eminent for morality, for 
intelligence, for pure religion, as it is now for health, 
beauty and temporal prosperity. 



>* 



POSTSCRIPT. 

Since the foregoing was in type, we have met with the 
following obituary notice of the Rev. Johannes Theodo- 
rus Polhemus, the first pastor of the Reformed Dutch 
Churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn and Flatlands. It is 
extracted from the records of the Church of Brooklyn. 

" It has pleased the Almighty God, to remove from this 
world of care and trouble, our worthy and beloved pastor, 
Johannes Polhemus, to the abode of peace and happiness 
in his heavenly kingdom : by which, our Church is de- 
prived of his pious instructions, godly example and evan- 
gelical ministrations, particularly in the administration 
of the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper." 



o. 



